Cathy Clark

What do you teach at Eastern Christian School?
K&1 General Music, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade Violin, MS String Orchestra, HS String Orchestra, HS Chamber Orchestra

What do you love about Eastern Christian School?
“I love working with the students who want to learn. I love working with parents who want the best for their students. I love working with other teachers who love what they do. I love working with the amazing, supportive staff.”

Why do you like teaching at Eastern Christian? What motivated you to become a teacher at Eastern Christian?
“I like teaching at EC for the reasons above. I initially started teaching at EC because it was a job that fit my children’s schedule, but it has since become a career.”

How do you teach a Christian Worldview in your classes at EC?
“God gave us all the ability to express our unique talents in many different ways. Music is a gift given to everyone, whether they can play an instrument or not. I am passionate about music, and I want the students to be exposed to all kinds of music so they too can enjoy and appreciate this gift. I love to see the students move their bodies, to hear their laughter, to play their instruments with passion, all in response to what they are experiencing with music.”

What is a unique experience, talent or interest that you bring to your classroom to help shape the learning experience of your students?
“I have been playing the violin and viola for over 41 years. It is in my blood; it is who I am. I have been performing professionally for over 25 years. Because I teach performance-based classes, I am able to bring my performance experience into the classroom and expose the students to the big picture. What better way to share my passion than to share my experience and pass it on to the students?!”

The Eastern Christian tagline is “Engaging. Nurturing. Transforming.” How do you accomplish this in your role at EC?
“I engage their minds with music, music history, math, higher-level thinking, technique, self-discipline, etc. I nurture their spirit by understanding how they learn and meeting them where they are to help them learn the best they can. I hopefully transform their world by introducing them to music and all of the wonders that go with it.”

What do you want your students to gain from having known you?
“I want them to grow up to love music in all of its shapes and forms.”

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?

“I am a product of the EC string program, and it was my EC violin teacher (Kay Andreas) that recognized my talent and ignited the fire inside of me. I maintain a private teaching studio and currently have 28 students that I see after school. I have played with Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis, as well as many other notable classical artists, and I’ve played in Carnegie Hall. I was invited to conduct the American Music Abroad High School Orchestra on its summer tour through Europe.”