Donia Rachelle Wade

04/08/2023

This page hasn't been active in a few years because of how busy I have been, but I'm going to fix that! Here is a quick update...

I joined the Rhodes MasterSingers in spring 2022 as a soprano section leader and have since been promoted to an Assistant Director!

I left all my positions at Idlewild Presbyterian Church in September and almost immediately was offered a position as Interim Director of Music at Bartlett United Methodist Church. As of March, the church has offered me the full-time director position, which I joyfully accepted. This means for the time being I will no longer be teaching in public school, but will be available to offer private or group lessons again!

I'll look into elaborating on these updates with some pictures soon. Have a great day!

05/06/2021

05/04/2019

Last night was the public performance for CYT’s production of “1000 Cranes,” based on the very real story of Sadako Sasaki. I had the honor of stage managing this production and was moved to tears many times last night. Thank you to Patty Carreras, our wonderful director, and a big thank you to DeltaARTS for the many opportunities you’ve given me in the past year and a half, and for future opportunities to come!

04/24/2019

I finally got my 4th, 5th, and 6th graders reading music. It has been difficult to focus on curriculum when we have to prepare for weekly mass, but in our small amount of time learning to read treble clef, they were finally able to apply it to an instrument and play “twinkle twinkle little star” together as a class with my help, then quickly progress onto this small excerpt from Beethoven’s 9th without any help from me!

04/15/2019

Hey guys! I’ll be back in business for summer lessons! Contact me now to sign up for a lesson time! $20/half hour, $40/hour!

03/01/2019

On Wednesday I got a call from one of my voice students. "I have very exciting news," she said. "I GOT IN!!!"

Kennedy and I have worked tirelessly since December to prepare for her audition for the musical theatre program at Chattanooga High School Center for the Creative Arts. After she sang a few different songs for me, we chose a song and a monologue and worked to perfect notes, rhythms, technique, and drama... and then the week before her audition I made a risky decision to change her song to something more appropriate for her voice at her age. In fact, it was one of the first pieces she sang for me before we chose her audition piece, but I didn't think fit her at the time. When she performed it for me the week before her audition, however, it was completely different than before. I saw the immediate change in her comfort and heard a stark contrast in the way she was singing the new song and saw that she also heard and saw the growth she had made. I don't regret working with her on the other piece for as long as we did, because everything we worked she was able to carry over into her newer piece and was more successful as a result.

Congratulations, Kennedy! May your remaining high school years guide you even closer to your dreams! 💜

12/26/2018

I haven't posted since August!!! I'm sorry y'all, school just kinda swept me up, especially the last couple months. I've kept busy! I made my debut as musical director for CYT's production of "W***y Wonka Jr" and I had to prepare TWO schools for a Christmas program. Both programs and the musical were beautiful to see, I couldn't have been more proud of my kids! Christmas Eve kept me busy with three different services, singing at two and leading the children's choir at one. I'm ready for the next week and a half of NOTHING!! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!! 💜💜💜

07/16/2018

I'm finally home after an eventful day/weekend in Blytheville with Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen Camille Cathey (I just can't say it enough)!!!! She had a beautiful send off party and we squeezed a few lessons into her crazy busy schedule, and I got to meet and talk to Miss Arkansas! And according to the Mayor of Blytheville, today (now yesterday) will forevermore be known as Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen Camille Cathey Day!!!

Huge thanks to Abby Houseworth Whitener for everything this weekend- from the AMAZING dinner last night to finding me that last glass of wine this afternoon, and to treating Camille like the princess she truly is... You're the best 😘

Pictures of Camille will be posted AFTER Nationals.

07/09/2018

This week I am excited to serve as Music Director for DeltaARTS 2018 Theatre Conservatory! We will be featuring the music of our upcoming Fall production, "W***y Wonka, Jr!" A special thanks to Jayme Stokes for keeping me involved with DeltaArts and Crittenden Youth Theatre!

07/07/2018

Last night I had the opportunity to lead these sweet children in music during the second Parent's Night Out at Idlewild Presbyterian Church! They have such big hearts and unending energy! I had a blast 🎶