Engaging Music, Drama & Creative Movement
As a qualified educator, Maria Rosa has incorporated music into the curriculum for students in Years 1-12. Her approach sought to engage the whole child and young adult in the adventure of learning, discovering themselves and the world about them via creativity and movement. Among her credits are the following:
'Over the years, in and out of classrooms one meets teachers, plain teachers, run of the mill teachers and “Ah! Teachers”. “Ah! Teachers” are people who have the gift as well as the training, the knack of creating noises and silences, work and play, fun and adventure, dreams and sparkles. “Ah! Teachers” bring the best out of children so that children want to learn, to please, to be helpful and honest. Miss Rosa is “Ah! A Teacher”!' - Principal, Primary School (WA)
'(Maria’s) ministry in teaching was distinguished by the thoroughness of preparation, her sensitivity to the needs of her students and her care in nurturing their growth.' - Principal, Secondary College (NSW)
'Maria’s approach is innovative and effective. … She is a gifted teacher who in the sensitive area of personal development has established a warm rapport with her students.' - General Co-ordinator, Secondary College (NSW)
Independent of the education context, Maria has also been asked to sing solo at special occasions such as weddings, an ordination, on radio and at a Sydney North Shore Spring Festival.
Training, Experience, Practice Highlights:
* Cast member for productions of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe and Patience,
Christ College (now integrated into Australian Catholic University)(Vic)
* Coordinating Creative Movement Yrs 3 & 4 entry in Latrobe Valley
Eisteddford + creation of play emerging from a Yr 6 term curriculum theme;
cast member of Revue presentation to inmates at local Prison Farm (Vic)
* End of Year Yr 1 Concert Creative Movement (WA)
* Tardun Special Aboriginal School (WA) – included integration of song-writing into
remedial reading program and inclusion of Indigenous perspectives
* La Grange Special Aboriginal School, La Grange (now Bidyadanga)(WA) –
included participation in formation of a Bush Band plus organization of visit by
Children Activities Times Society (CATS) to hold creativity enhancing
workshops in music and puppetry; co-organiser and leader in local children
and teenagers’ 3 week Christmas Holiday Program
* Assigned to work in particular with students who had been dislocated from
Oombulgurri Community (previously known as Forrest River Mission)(WA)
* Experience included being with a group of students of Indigenous descent from
a remote community led by a local Indigenous teacher when they entered song
and dance in Darwin Eisteddford; Yr 1 End of Year Concert presentation;
Singing and playing guitar as part of music group in NT local church
* Began study and practice of Liturgical Dance while completing Diploma of
Spirituality for Leadership (NSW)
* Joined group of singers and musicians contributing regularly to
the Music Ministry, Haymarket Church, Sydney (NSW)
* Staff Member for 7 years at Secondary College (NSW) – integrated
music and drama into Religious Education and Personal
Development Streams Yrs 7-12;
* Undertook singing lessons, Strathfield (NSW);
recording and released of album Red Land Songs at Black Inc Studios,
St Leonards (NSW);
* Regular Jazzercise participant;
* Performed at concerts presenting Red Land Songs program with
Rod Cameron OSA at Cairns, Dimboolah, Mareeba, Innisfail and
Kuranda (QLD)
* Completed Western Music studies, Mt Lawley College of Advanced
Education (now integrated into Edith Cowan University)(WA)
* Participated in 2 interviews and program presentations of Red Land
Songs on local radio FM station, Manly Warringah (NSW);
composition of music for presentation of A Tongue of Silver by
Michael Dyne (originally from Matinee Theatre, March 15, 1957)
on local radio FM station, Manly Warringah (NSW);
participant in airplay given for presentation of A Tongue Silver by Radio Players on local FM radio station – sang songs composed of
music I set to some of play's text;
presented music composed for A Tongue of Silver as part of
Radio Players at Spring Explodes Festival held on October 20, 1991
at Narrabeen (NSW) by Peninsula Arts Network as assisted by the
Australia Council, the Federal Arts funding and advisory body
and Warringah Shire Council;
composed other songs commissioned by Rod Cameron OSA for
his retreat and Red Land Ministry work
* Flamenco, Tango and Salsa Workshops Alice Springs
* Choreographed Creative Movement (matching my original
painting) presented as part of assessable core unit project in
professional doctoral program with Intercultural Concentration;
member of McCormick Theological Seminary Choir, Chicago;
participant in Flamenco Training Workshops, Chicago (USA) and Alice
Springs
* Clown Doctoring Workshops
* Nungalinya College Lecturer, Darwin (NT) – training
adults of Indigenous descent to meet requirements of the
following nationally accredited vocational competencies:
Develop Knowledge of Public Worship; Apply Skills in
Conducting Public Worship; Develop Culturally Appropriate
Expressions of Christian Discipleship;
Develop Knowledge of the Relationship between Gospel
and Culture.
Canvassed 2 recommendations supporting an ultimately
successful application for funding a new building for
music and media studies/production building at Nungalinya
* Participant in Medieval Dance Group
* Recording of own musical compositions written in response
to commissioning by Rod Cameron OSA or in collaboration
with James Cornell for albums: Fire Wrapped in Stone,
Wildfire Spun, Overheard by the Heart, Little Deep Wells,
Whispering into the Wind at Warrior Records.
* Attendee at Masterclass on performance with flautist Jane
Rutter, Forge Theatre, Bairnsdale (Vic), November 11, 2016.
Editor of presentation in Cairns' collaboration between local
people of Indigenous descent and Rod Cameron OSA as
background to understanding origin of album Red Land Songs.
Companion text to 34 songs created and published in 2022: Tesserae
Kinned