My musical background extends far into my past. My grandmother once commented that I had “piano hands,” long fingers good for tickling the ivories. So, my mother had me taking piano lessons by the third grade and I’ve been studying ever since! I moved to the great state of Indiana in the fifth grade and after one choir rehearsal at my new church, I knew what I wanted to do….teach music. I joined middle school band in seventh grade and have played the French horn ever since. In addition to band, I joined choir at Avon High School and loved every minute of my musical endeavors. I chose to attend Indiana State University to pursue a Bachelor of Music Education and a Certificate of Piano Pedagogy, both of which I earned in 2008. 

The highlight of my college choir experiences came in the summer of 2008 when ISU’s Concert Choir and select group Sycamore Singers traveled to Europe. We had the opportunity to perform in a choral festival with other choirs from the United States in Lucerne, Switzerland. Then, we traveled to sight-see and perform in cathedrals in Venice, Italy and Lugano, Switzerland. Sometime, I’ll have to share with you the 900 pictures I’ve compiled in an album from this awesome trip with some of my best friends!

My teaching experiences have been very rewarding to me. I have completed an internship in piano teaching through ISU, where I co-taught a section of Class Piano to music majors at ISU. I also enjoyed my position at Prairieton United Methodist Church in Prairieton, IN as music director, which I held for the last two years of my college career. I completed my student teaching requirements in two school districts in Indiana. The first was Northwest Hendricks School Corporation in Lizton, IN where I taught grades 6-12 music and choir at Tri-West High & Middle Schools. The second was South Bend Community Schools in South Bend, IN where I taught grades 2-8 music and choir at LaSalle Intermediate Academy and Madison Primary School. Both experiences taught me a lot, but I fell in love with everything about my first placement. 

All of these experiences brought me to the northern Indianapolis suburbs, where my main focus from 2009-2023 was on being the best choir director I could be for my students at Hamilton Heights Middle & High Schools in Arcadia, IN.  The memories and students-turned-friends that public school choral music education gave me will always be one of my favorite parts of my life.

In 2012,  I began singing with Indianapolis Arts Chorale here in Indianapolis and now serve as their Artistic Director since January 2020.   In 2023, as a longtime member of the Indiana chapter of the American Choral Director’s Association, I stepped in to the role of Chair for the All-State Honor Choir for high school students across Indiana.  

I have played French horn in the Indianapolis Symphonic Band in the past as well.  Furthermore, I took the opportunity to return to Indiana State University to complete my Master of Music in Music Education over the summers and finally finished this program in 2014.

One of my newer musical adventures is learning more and more about the world of barbershop by way of meeting and marrying my husband, Kyle.  His quartet, Instant Classic, is the 2015 Barbershop Harmony Society International Quartet Champions.  I’ve really enjoyed learning more about music through the eyes of someone so passionate about his art…plus hearing his bass voice sing around the house has been a welcome delight to my life!  We share life with our two beautiful daughters Natalie and Lydia.

Where will my musical journey take me next?  I have no idea, but I love the path I’m on and would love to share my passion and expertise with you.  No matter what your age or ability level, I know I can help you grow as a musician and learn something new about music and about yourself!

Smile,
Mrs. Kitzmiller