Casey Georgi Will Be First Music Teacher at Newly Founded African School

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Nyack resident and Ithaca College student Casey Georgi will be the first music teacher for these students at the Mzuzu Academy in the African country of Malawi.

ITHACA, NY (11/28/2011)(readMedia)-- Nyack resident Casey Georgi, currently studying music education at Ithaca College, will travel to the African country of Malawi after December graduation to serve as the first music teacher at the newly founded Mzuzu Academy. A landlocked country in southeastern African, Malawi is one of the most conflict-free countries on the continent, yet in the poverty-stricken land, one in five children won't live to age five. Of those who do survive, two-thirds won't be able to continue their educations beyond the primary grades because of a shortage of secondary schools. To help address that issue, Malawi native and Nyack resident Anna Msowoya Keys founded the Mzuzu Academy in 2010.

"I worked with Anna at her store, Chibekeni Global Treasures, in Nyack," Georgi said. "That's where I learned about Anna's work in Malawi as part of her organization, Maloto, which means hope in the local language. Ever since high school, teaching is something I knew I wanted to do more than anything, and my relationship with Anna is giving me the chance to use my music education major to help educate and empower the people in Malawi."

Georgi's desire to teaching began at Nyack High School, thanks to some inspiring teachers.

"My most memorable teachers were my orchestra instructor Ms. Gero, the band director Dr. Bish, and my music theory teacher Mrs. Pluhowski" said Georgi. "When I started to lead rehearsals, I got some insight into what it would be like to teach in a classroom, and realized I had a knack for it, and I loved it."

Given the shortage of musical instruments and books, starting a teaching career in Africa will pose unique challenges. Add to that the culture shock of living in a land where 1 out of 15 inhabitants is living with AIDS and 37 percent of the population can't read. Georgi, though, is going into Malawi with her eyes open.

"My goal is to kick-start a beautifully enriching music class that offers the children a chance to live through music," she said. "In my class, the children will make music, listen to music, write about music, move to music and paint to music. In addition, students will learn about world music, instruments, history, composition and theory. I also expect I'll be volunteering at Maloto's orphan feeding center and helping out any way I can."

Georgi plans to be in Malawi for at least a year. Not counting Canada and Mexico, it will be her first trip outside the United States.

"My mom [Joan Georgi] is worried sick, of course, but she approves of the work I'm doing," said Georgi. "She knows that I'm passionate about music and teaching."

Currently, Georgi is finishing her bachelor's in music education at Ithaca College. She's also meeting with her professors to discuss organizing the Mzuzu Academy's curriculum, raising funds for her trip and collecting instrument donations.

"I'm investing a lot of time into this program because I want to see it bloom," she said. "After my time is up in Malawi, I want to visit other African countries and Europe, and eventually attend grad school. My longtime goal is to keep on teaching and performing."

For more information, contact Keith Davis in the Ithaca College media relations office, at (607) 274-1153 or kdavis@ithaca.edu.