Although Rhonda did not own a computer when schools closed in March, she rolled up her sleeves and embraced the technology available to her to continue teaching. She now has a busy schedule on Zoom every week, teaching for Cantare and other local organizations such as Oakland Youth Chorus. She seeks out online resources for her students in order to incorporate movement, music literacy and singing into her rigorous curriculum. She also created her own “tool box” curriculum to introduce various components of music making to her students, including genre, families of musical instruments, expression and song writing. She started her own YouTube channel, recording videos of her original compositions and her students’ favorite songs so they can access them anytime at home.
A San Francisco native, Rhonda began singing professionally in 1989, and has performed on stages around the world. Rhonda’s musical talents were nurtured in the Baptist church growing up, and at age 16, she became the church pianist at the historic Third Baptist Church in San Francisco. She is Director of the Children's Ministry of the Love Center Church and formerly for the Edwin and Walter Hawkins Music & Arts National Conference. Rhonda is looking forward to being back on stage with her band CHELLE! and Friends and her a capella group Chelle's Juke Joint.
We are so proud to have Rhonda on our teaching staff and so thankful for the incredible joy and energy she gives to her students each week, in the classroom and online! When Mz. Rhonda is singing, no one can resist the urge to join in!
