PhD, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois

Lois is Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Superior where she teaches elementary and secondary music education classes to music majors, and music education as part of elementary education to elementary education majors. In addition to her work as a music educator, Lois holds undergraduate degrees in performance is active as a choral conductor, performer, researcher, clinician, author, consultant and composer. She has taught music, levels pre-K through university, in both public and private schools including Northwestern University where she was a recipient of several competitive awards and fellowships in music education. Lois is often a presenter and/or consultant on topics important to music education in the areas of comprehensive, standards based-music education, private vocal and choral music education for young singers, musical theatre, interdisciplinary education and especially the inclusion of music composition in general music curricula and all areas of music education. Lois specializes in creating music education curricula that incorporate all nine National Standards in Music Education with emphasis on engaging students in creative work: especially music improvisation, composition, and creative dramatics. An author of several books and articles for music education, some of Lois' areas of research engagement include: The Effects of Composition and Improvisation on Music Learning and Skill Development in the General Music Classroom; Interdisciplinary and Integrated Curricula and Music Education Lois serves as a national adjudicator in music composition and as an online national mentor in choral music education for The National Association for Music Education (MENC), as an adjudicator for the National Piano Guild as well as an adjudicator and board member for several music and arts organizations. Committed to community arts, Lois is the Vice President of the Chicago Composers Forum and has created and implemented arts programs for organizations in the Chicago area. In a special outreach program to the schools, "Link-UP - A Simple Melody," (2004) she worked as a teacher/liaison between the Chicago Public Schools and "arts partners," Weill Institute of Music at Carnegie Hall, Northwestern University, Ravinia and Verizon Company. A versatile composer and author, many of Lois' choral, instrumental, piano and vocal compositions, musicals (authored and co-authored) and music texts have been internationally recorded, broadcast and published. She is the author of the versatile texts for music education - Playing the Soprano Recorder for Church, School, Community, and the Private Studio and Playing the Soprano Recorder for School, Community, and the Private Studio published by co-authors Rowman & Littlefield Education/MENC. Lois' love for sharing life through music with others, her belief in the importance of musical experience in peoples lives, and the belief and that all human beings have musical and creative potential - with education as a key factor in the realizing of that potential - are the underlying forces that fuel her passion for arts education.