By MARGARET HARJUS
Contributing Editor
Moving from Rhode Island to New York, and now on to Virginia, Juliana Rivelli has celebrated the importance of music everywhere she has gone. Rivelli will be graduating with her Bachelors of Science in Music Education with a Voice Concentration.
Upon graduation, Rivelli is looking forward to attending graduate school in the fall, at Shenandoah Conservatory, to begin work on her Masters of Art in Vocal Pedagogy. Her future goals also include teaching elementary school music, and possibly pursuing a PhD in some field of music.
Rivelli attributes her academic successes to the support she has always received from her family.
“Both my parents have a lot of value in education, and they want me and my three other siblings to all go through and graduate college. So my parents really were passionate in me going to college and getting my undergraduate degree, and always supportive. Especially in my music endeavors and just pursuing my dreams and career goals. They were always supportive of that and wanted me to achieve my goals,” said Rivelli.
“Besides education, they always supported music,” said Rivelli. She does, however, mention that there was some surprise in her capabilities, when starting music. Neither of Rivelli’s parents can sing, so they were very proud and supportive of her abilities to do so.
“They were like ‘okay cool, let’s support her,’ and they took me to every rehearsal and everything,” said Rivelli.
Throughout her vocal studies at The College of Saint Rose, her musical interests include music history, especially that of historical women in music, as well as classical and contemporary musical theater. Through musical theater, she has also better learned acting and expression through music.
“As a performer, Juliana has depicted everything from heart-wrenching sincerity to hilarity in the roles she has embodied at Saint Rose,” said Suna Gunther, Rivelli’s applied music teacher.
Even though music has always been a major part of Rivelli’s life, her heart lies with music education specifically, and working with children. Rivelli’s favorite grade to teach is kindergarten, so she has hopes to work in elementary school. Along with this, Rivelli runs a private voice studio, where she holds lessons for any age and need.
“She has continued to be a true professional, but she is always excited to learn new strategies and consider how she can support her students better,” said Jennifer Campbell, one of Rivelli’s professors at Saint Rose.
Working with children has always been a passion of Rivelli’s, and has grown very much throughout her time at college. While she was in high school, she participated in FLITES, teaching French to fourth and fifth grade students. She has also taken on a tutoring job at the college, to help her peers in the music field.
Rivelli has been involved in the Saint Rose chapter of the American Choral Directors’ Association all four years in attendance, and has taken leadership roles during three of the four: treasurer in sophomore year, and president in junior and senior year.
As a very small club, Rivelli said she is grateful for the friends she has gained in ACDA, and everything they have accomplished together.
Rivelli has also worked as a Resident Assistant for three years, and has enjoyed each one. She has hosted many events and has very much enjoyed them.
As Rivelli is very interested in traveling, she is unsure exactly where life will take her, but is looking forward to every minute of it, and will always have The College of Saint Rose as her foundation.
