Michelle McCaffrey '07
Music Education Graduate

"I am from New Windsor, NY and graduated in May of 2007 with a degree in Music Education. I am currently the Choral Director at Salisbury High School. I have 3 incredible ensembles whom work hard everyday! I am also the Varsity Cheerleading Coach, which helps get me out and about throughout the school, as well as being involved with other activities within the school. I worked for a year previously in Iredell County at an Elementary School but love being back in Rowan County at a school full of supportive administrators and staff. I can be reached at mccaffreymk@rss.k12.nc.us. Without the help and extra care every professor in the music department gave me I would not be as successful as I am today. It is always nice to run into a professor at a football game or elsewhere and see the look on their face and know they are proud of you. The Catawba Community made me realize the difference I could make in a students life, with that I live by this quote:

"Teaching music in not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline, and endurance. They get a beautiful heart." - Shinichi Suzuki

I thank Catawba for helping create my beautiful heart!"

Danielle Petrin '07
Music Education Graduate

Catawba College Alumna Danielle Petrin '07 of Reston, Va., recently accepted a position as special projects manager for MENC, the National Association for Music Education. This national organization (www.menc.org) provides advocacy and education in public school music and Danielle's responsibilities include coordination of the U.S. Army All-American Band and the development of adjudication clinics.

Recently, Danielle shared her thoughts on landing her job and the role she believes her alma mater played in the process.

“I am extremely excited about this job. I am very thankful towards my professors [you] and Catawba for this opportunity. If it weren't for Catawba I would not be where I am today. Most people go to college with the intention of leaving with a specific job, but by the time they get out they went in a completely different direction. I am no different.

When I came to Catawba, I had every intention of becoming a teacher, but all of the extra-curriculars, SGA, and the Catawba community in general helped me become more well-rounded. I received my responsibilities [jobs] with the U.S. Army All-American Band and with the MENC because of the background that Catawba gave me to help me stand out from the other applicants. While my music education background was vital to these positions, every other applicant held that same background. It was actually the other opportunities that Catawba presented me with (CMENC, SGA, Alphas, other campus committees, etc...), that made me stand out from them. [And] For this, I am eternally grateful.”

Dennis Reed '05
Music Business/Popular Music Graduate

"I was introduced to Catawba and liked what I saw. I was used to personal attention in high school and was concerned about going to a big public institution. I didn't want to be a number."

Dennis Reed's star is rising quickly in the music industry. The ascent of the 2006 graduate and now Catawba College Young Artist in Residence began while Dennis was still a music major in our business/popular music concentration, when he beat out over 1200 other student songwriters to win the 9th Annual BMI John Lennon Songwriting scholarship with his song "Out of Control."

• Hear Sample Tracks (including Out of Control) »

Building on this success, Dennis then placed three songs in the finals of the International Songwriting Competition (out of 15,000 entries from around the world!) — an unheard of feat according to ISC officials.

Other gospel artists have started to recognize Dennis' songwriting talents too, as evidenced by the inclusion of three of his songs on the latest EMI release by gospel legend Ricky Dillard, 7th Episode.

Dennis' Charlotte-based gospel ensemble, GAP, has also come to enjoy remarkable success in just a short period of time. In recent months they have recorded tracks with both Queen Latifa and soul legend Mavis Staples for an upcoming EMI all-star release and taped a session with the Latin band Son de Cuba for an episode of the forthcoming PBS series Meet Me at the Crossroads. They are also slated to appear with the Charlotte Symphony for that orchestra's 9th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Concert in January 2008.

Labeling Deloris

The members of the alternative rock band Labeling Deloris have been building a successful career for themselves one important step at a time since Jennifer Reiff and Jason Rigney graduated from Catawba in 2005, taking with them sophomore drummer Andrew Boudouris. The three music business/popular music majors, along with bassist Brad Rigney, spent a year long stint in the Music City (Nashville, TN) before relocating to Wilmington, NC armed with "For the Sake of Deloris," their first release. It was a crucial step. In a few short months, they found themselves in newspapers and magazines as well as on television and winning the top spot for online sales for Aware Records, best known as John Mayer's label.

As a NextMedia favorite, Labeling Deloris has enjoyed Wilmington radio domination on SURF 98.3 as well as Rock 104.5 and Z 107.5. They have found additional radio success in Charlotte, Nashville, New Haven, New York, and Chicago, along with other cities and countless web and satellite stations. Along with the airplay, Labeling Deloris has been named one of the Myspace Top 10 Artists in North Carolina and asked to perform at some of the state's biggest events including Wilmington's Wing Fling, Azalea Festival, and SURF 98.3 Birthday Blowout, among many others.

We'll be sure to keep you updated as Labeling Deloris continues to rise in the music industry.