Randolph-Macon College student Katie New ’20 is a well-rounded Yellow Jacket. A music major and education minor, New served as president and treasurer of Mu Phi Epsilon (a music honors and service fraternity); served as a music tutor in the Higgins Academic Center; directed and performed in InTONEnation, a student-led group; served as a student ambassador for the Education Department; and is a member of the Education Alumni Board. In addition, she studied piano, voice and conducting and lent her voice and conducting skills to the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers.

Research and Discovery
In 2019, New, under the guidance of Music Professor Brian Coffill, completed a Schapiro Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) project designed to help elementary general music teachers find teaching materials for their students. For her senior capstone project, she explored the process of selecting and programming repertoire for secondary choral ensembles written by a diverse group of composers and arrangers. “With this knowledge,” says New, “I was able to create four sample concert programs that I can use with my future choir students.”

“Coffill says, “Katie’s carefully selected individual projects complement her strong musical skill set and have set her up for success as a future music educator. Her SURF project is a tremendous asset to the music education community.”

Encouragement 
Education Professor Diana Yesbeck “has been incredibly supportive of me,” says New, the recipient of the Barbara Sylvia Doggett Scholarship, the Presidential Scholarship and the Trustees Award. “Whenever I felt discouraged, she always encouraged me to believe in myself and my abilities and to continue pursuing my goals.”

Yesbeck also gave New unique opportunities to hone her leadership skills. “She offered me a position on the Education Alumni Board and asked me to serve as a student ambassador for the Education Department,” says New. “Both experiences helped me develop teaching skills, learn from other educators and give back to the Education Department.”

Getting the EDGE on Career Plans
Like all education students, New worked with Cathy Rollman, director of professional development in the EDGE Career Center, as she prepared for life beyond RMC.   

“Each year, she works closely with student teachers to help them revise their application materials and prepare for interviews,” says New. “Every time I met with Cathy, she provided great feedback, which gave me the confidence I needed to apply for jobs and succeed in interviews.”  

Improvisation
The COVID-19 pandemic initially upended New’s academic plans. In spring 2020, she began student teaching—an essential part of the process of obtaining a teaching license. When schools closed, New was devastated that she could no longer meet with her students. But, like any good teacher—and musician—she learned to improvise.

“I am tutoring students via Zoom, an online video platform, to continue teaching,” she says. “In addition, I am also participating in professional development, continuing to improve my skills as a musician, and planning for my first year of teaching.” Although the final weeks of her senior year did not turn out the way she expected, “I know this experience will ultimately make me a better educator,” she says.

New, says Coffill, “is a shining example of Randolph-Macon’s personalized approach to a collegiate education. She carefully crafted her path as a music education student and found unique opportunities to share her talents with the RMC musical community.”

Future Plans
New, who was recently awarded a $1,500 Initial Licensure Scholarship from the Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, will set her sights on a job teaching elementary general music or secondary choir. “After I have been teaching for a few years, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in the field of music education,” she notes.