KATY MCNIFF
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Mrs. McNiff is an award winning educator and guest-clinician, living in the Arizona Sonoran Desert. An experienced Music Educator and Choral Leader, Mrs. McNiff expanded her research interests to include educational policy, teacher mentorship and classroom management.
Mrs. McNiff has taught as a Faculty Associate and Course Instructor in Music Education and Student Teaching at Arizona State University, where she received the Professor of Merit Award. She is also a former Course Instructor and Ensemble Director at the University of Arizona. She has has led choral ensembles and lecture series in Arizona, Michigan, Oklahoma and California.
Mrs. McNiff is a former Mentor Teacher, Choral Instructor and General Music Teacher in Arizona public and charter schools for both Elementary and Middle School. A dedicated Church Musician, she has led music at the Church of the Painted Hills United Church of Christ in Tucson, Christ Presbyterian Church in Tucson and is currently the Director of Music for Christ the King Catholic Church on the Davis Monthan Air Force Base.
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She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Audivi Vocem Choral Summer Institute LLC, a summer choral festival with two locations serving Arizona, presenting undergraduate students with the opportunity to conduct in masterclass and performance settings.
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Mrs. McNiff has completed her Doctoral Residency in Music Education at Arizona State University. She holds a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona, a Masters Degree in Music Education from Arizona State University and Bachelor Degrees in Musicology and Voice from the University of Michigan. She has also studied Medieval Musicology at St Peters College, Oxford University.
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​"Not only is Mrs. McNiff multi-talented but she has demonstrated high quality standards in music and movement integration, an understanding of primary aged children's physical and mental abilities, thoughtful reflection on her lessons and the interaction with children. She is highly respected and appreciated for this dedication."
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-Dr. Joan Ashcraft, Director
Departments of Fine and Performing Arts
Tucson Unified School District
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"Mrs. McNiff is flexible, and quick to assimilate new ideas. Her fine choral background, allows her to bring strong and creative ideas to her endeavors. Audivi Vocem, Mrs. McNiff's summer conducting workshop, is truly remarkable. Mrs. McNiff's drive, focus, warm good humor, dedication, and boundless energy was terrific in every way."
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-Dr. Jerry Blackstone, Professor Emeritus
University of Michigan, SMTD
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"Mrs. McNiff possesses an incredibly diverse and dynamic skill set. Perhaps most unique of all is her ability to utilize the lens of a human and an educator, always asking: What is
the best for my student’s experience? Mrs. McNiff seeks to create more diverse and whole human beings who are curious about the world and are empowered to be able to seek answers for themselves and see others both for their similarities and regardless of their differences."
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-Mx. Kimberly Waigwa, Director
Phoenix Women's Chorus
Desert Voices GALA Chorus
​"Students became composers under her care and were able to shine. I loved her method of hands-on learning and it translated well with a diverse population of students. She was able to target learners with special needs through individualized focus and support. Mrs. McNiff goes the extra mile to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to learn and access the material."
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-Mrs. Christine Cassell
1st Grade Teacher
Tucson Unified School District