2026 Illinois Music Educator Conference (IMEC): Experience and Retrospective

Sarah Giordano is a professor at VanderCook College of Music, where she teaches Secondary General Music Methods and Musical Theatre Methods. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she serves as a master’s project advisor and contributes to the MECA program, with ‘Combat Piano for the New Choral Director.’ She is an active choral clinician, adjudicator, and accompanist.

Sarah Giordano brings over 24 years of experience in the Chicago suburbs as an educator and musician, having dedicated two decades as a middle school general music teacher, choir director and drama director. Ms. Giordano holds a Bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education from Eastern Illinois University and a Master’s degree in choral music education from VanderCook College of Music. Furthering her academic pursuits, she is currently enrolled as a doctoral student at Boston University. 

Ms. Giordano has a passion for musical theatre. She directs and serves as music director and vocal director with various youth theatre programs and both professional and community adult theatre programs. Among her recent youth theatre works are Madagascar JR, Frozen JR, R&H Cinderella: Youth Edition, The Pirates of Penzance, and Godspell. Recent mainstage productions are Spamalot, Guys and Dolls, The Bridges of Madison County, Hairspray, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.