Summer Tuition Assistance for Doctoral Studies.
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Thank you for viewing my fundraiser! Those who know me know that I left a full-time tenured position to return to Doctoral studies in 2020 after timing out in document for my previous DMA studies. I'm happy to be at the University of Kentucky, and for the opportunities I've had here. Please read about this past year and upcoming plans below! My fall and spring semesters have been covered by my work as a TA in music theory and choral studies. This summer, I was once again granted a sizeable scholarship to cover part of the INTENSIVE summer study required by my program. I still need to pay tuition and fees for 2 out of state graduate credits at $1,870.00 per credit -due next week! Sadly, I maxed out on my educational loan egibility during my previous academic studies. Income this summer from additional clerical and church work is just enough to cover my food, gasoline, and utilities. 100% of the money received from this fundraiser will support the remaining tuition bill. Thank you in advance for supporting my professional goals! Read on about the past year, upcoming plans, and view some sample performances!
Bethany Plissey
2021-2022 Academic Year Overview:
My academic work is strong, and I'm maintaining a 3.94 GPA. I've led performances with the UK Chorale of Mozart's Missa Brevis in D, Vaughan Williams' O Clap Your Hands, and Mendelssohn's Denn Er hat seinen Engeln befohlen dir. I was Assistant Conductor of the UKWomen's Choir and performed with them in North Carolina at the ACDA Southern Region Conference. I conducted the UKWC in additional performances of works by Philip Silvey and Andrea Ramsey. In addition, I led rehearsals with the UK Chorale, Men's Chorus, and Women's Choir to help prepare them for an April performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the UK Symphony Orchestra. I taught sophomore level aural music theory as a Teaching Assistant in music theory and continued assistantship work in choral studies. Professionally, I served as a judge in KMEA District 7 -for the Solo and Ensemble, High School Choral Assessment, and Middle School Choral Assessment festivals, had two clinics with the choirs at East Jessamine High School, and attended the KentuckyMEA conference and the ACDA Southern Region Conference. I've continued to sing with the Lexington Singers and became a staff singer at Central Christian Church.
UPCOMING PLANS:
In July, I finish coursework for the program and begin a year of exams, 6 score study projects, monograph proposal and document writing, and job search. My monograph focus is the catalog and analysis of Eriks Esenvalds Choral settings of Teasdale poetry. In July, I'll lead an intensive rehearsal weekend with a colleague and present the final degree lecture recital in my specialization of Baltic Choral Music. I accepted a surprise full-assistantship in the music theory area and will teach two sections of sophomore-level aural theory in the fall. I plan to continue voice lessons with Cynthia Lawrence and sing with UK Chorale, travelling to NYC with them in March to perform at Carnegie Hall. I'm excited for the possibilities of relocation and new full-time position come July 2023 upon finally completing the DMA in Choral Conducting.
If you're interested in my work consider viewing these captured performances under Covid restrictions from 2020 to 2021.
UK Chorale, April 21, 2021 Program: Love and War
8:45 - Batter My Heart, by Richard Nance
17:30 - All of Us from Considering Matthew Shepard, by Craig Hella Johnson
UKChorale, March 3, 2021 Program: Light and Darkness
7:45 - Day of Fire and Sun, by Dominick DiOrio
12:20 - Northern Lights, by Eriks Esenvalds
UK Chorale, November, 2020, A Thanksgiving Offering
3:50 - Unicornis Captivatur by Ola Gjielo
Organizer
Bethany Plissey
Organizer
Lexington, KY