The 80th Midwest Clinic: Experience and Retrospective
Date
December 16-December 19, 2026
Conference & Retrospective
Course Number
8056C
Credits
1
Tuition
$180
Course Description
As a co-founder of the Midwest Clinic, VanderCook College of Music offers participants an opportunity to earn 1 Graduate Credit (one semester hour) by attending 12.5 hours clinic sessions and concerts followed by the submission of observation summary outlines and reflection essays. Registration, in person attendance, and full engagement for the 80th Midwest Clinic are required. https://www.midwestclinic.org/
- Participants will be required to compile 6 session reports.
- Two session reports are required to be concert performances.
- Two session reports are required to be clinic sessions.
- Two session reports can be of the participants choosing (one of the participant choice session reports can include 1 hour of active engagement in the conference exhibit hall).
- Each session report will include the following
- Participants are to upload scans of handouts, concert programs, or share session links to Schoology (VCM On-Line learning platform) for each session.
- Participants are to develop written summary outlines of each session.
- Participants are to write personal reflection essay reports (2-3 pages) of each session.
Course work will be reviewed and graded by the MECA office at VanderCook College of Music.
Instructor
Sarah Giordano is an instructor at VanderCook College of Music, where she teaches the following courses:
- Secondary General Music Methods
- Musical Theatre Methods
- Combat Piano for Choral Directors (offered through the MECA program)
- Beginner Choirs, Big Impact: Inclusive Teaching & Repertoire for Emerging Ensembles (offered through the MECA program)
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ms. Giordano serves as a VanderCook master’s project advisor and is an active choral clinician, adjudicator, and accompanist in the Chicago suburbs.
With over 24 years of experience as an educator and musician in the Chicago suburbs, Ms. Giordano spent two decades as a middle school general music teacher, choir director, and drama director. She 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. Currently, she is pursuing her Doctorate in Music Education at Boston University.
Ms. Giordano is passionate about musical theatre and actively directs, music directs, and serves as vocal director for various youth, professional, and community theatre programs. Her youth theatre productions include Frozen JR, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella: Youth Edition, The Pirates of Penzance, and Godspell. On the mainstage, her credits include Spamalot, Guys and Dolls, The Bridges of Madison County, Hairspray, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.