Nazareth College Theatre Arts Department Welcomes Corinne Aquilina as Visiting Lecturer and Musical Director

Related Media

Corinne Aquilina, visiting lecturer and musical director, Nazareth College Department of Theatre Arts

ROCHESTER, NY (08/26/2014)(readMedia)-- The Nazareth College Department of Theatre Arts is pleased to announce the appointment of Corinne Aquilina as visiting lecturer and musical director. A graduate of the College's Department of Music, Aquilina has been resident musical director at Merry Go Round Theater in Auburn, N.Y. since 2000, and has taught at SUNY Cortland in its musical theatre B.F.A. program since 2007.

"Corinne's wealth of experience as a music director, arranger, and performer on and off Broadway and regionally make her the ideal person to lead our growing musical theatre B.F.A. program," said Nazareth College Department of Theatre Arts chair Yuanting Zhao. "I am pleased to have Corinne share her talents and expertise with our students!"

Aquilina has played keyboard in the pit orchestra for the Broadway production Boy from Oz; worked off-Broadway as arranger/musical director for Menopause The Musical; toured nationally with Annie, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, and Five Guys Named Moe; and worked regionally at Arkansas Repertory Theater, Geva Theatre Center, and Syracuse Stage. Her original works include lyricist/composer for Treasure Island, which premiered at Arkansas Repertory Theater; The Littlest Witch, licensed by Steele SpringsTheatrical (stagerights.com); and Pump N Go, which will soon be in workshop at Florida Studio Theatre.

"I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Nazareth Theatre Arts faculty and to work with these talented music theatre students," Aquilina said. "I'm particularly passionate about exposing students to the literary, technical, and business aspects of musical theatre, and helping them hone their skills and launch their careers!"

Aquilina earned her B.S. in music education from the Nazareth College Department of Music in 1972, did graduate work at the Eastman School of Music, and studied further at Carnegie Hall Studios. She is a member of the Dramatist's Guild; the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; and the American Federation of Musicians Local 802.

The Nazareth College Department of Theatre Arts teaches theatre in a liberal arts context developing a student's skills in critical thinking, analysis, reasoning, and communication. The program hones students' talents and prepares them for a life in the arts. The Department of Theatre Arts' play season has often been listed among the top 10 nationally by The Princeton Review. This year features productions including Macbeth, I Love You Because, Circle Mirror Transformation, and The Secret Garden. Like every year, all the roles, scenery, costumes, and lighting will be designed and built by department faculty and students. For more information, visit naz.edu/theatre-arts.

Nazareth College's academic strengths cross an unusually broad spectrum of 60 majors, including education, health and human services, management, the fine arts, music, theater, math and science, foreign languages, and the liberal arts. The coeducational, religiously independent, classic campus in a charming suburb of Rochester, N.Y. challenges and supports 2,000 undergrads and 800 graduate students. Nazareth is recognized nationally for its Fulbright global student scholars and commitment to civic engagement. Rigorous programs, an uncommon core, experiential learning, career skills, and a global focus prepare graduates for not just one job, but for their life's work. For more information, visit naz.edu.

# # #