The 2008-09 school year marks Bill Podolski’s first year as Director of Choral Activities at HB Woodlawn Secondary School in Arlington, VA. This dynamic Choral Department has been invited to perform at the Kennedy Center, Washington National Cathedral, the White House, Schlesinger Concert Hall, Strathmore Music Center and twice for the Virginia State Music Convention, all under the direction of their previous director, Jeffrey Benson. There is much excitement ahead for this choral department and Bill is excited to lead this distinguished program.

As a teacher, conductor, singer and church musician, Bill’s experience is significant. As a professional singer, Bill has performed various opera roles, featured solo recitals in St. Moritz, Switzerland and Cologne, Germany, and has performed at Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House and most recently in concerts leading up to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and Shanghai. He currently sings with the National Philharmonic Singers. As a conductor, Bill has served as Student Conductor for the Gemini Youth Chorale and the George Mason University choral program.

For the past three years, Bill has taught at Forest Edge Elementary School, Reston, VA, as general music teacher, drama coach and department chair. In 2007 he was awarded PTA Teacher of the Year and in 2008 his colleagues honored him with the Staff Recognition Award. Additionally, Bill serves as Director of Music Ministry for St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Sterling, VA.

Bill is an active member of the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA), and is a current member of the organization’s Young Leadership Symposium. Additionally, Bill is the Membership Chair for the VA chapter of American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and sits on on the planning committee for their annual Voices United Regional Convention. In 2008 he was awarded the Colleen Kirk Award by ACDA for dedication and excellence in the first three years of teaching.

Bill is a graduate of George Mason University with a BME in Vocal Education and a BA in Instrumental Education.

Bonny Tynch was classically trained as a clarinetist and vocalist.  She has been an active music educator in both public schools and privately in the DC metro area since 1997.  She has served on the early childhood music faculty of the Levine School and Harmonia School for Music and Art and has taught K-8 general and choral music in Fairfax County Public Schools and Arlington Public Schools.   Bonny is a frequent adjudicator in northern Virginia and co-presented a session on developing the singing voice in the Orff Classroom at the 2008 National Conference of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association.

Bonny holds a Masters degree in Music Education from George Mason University where she completed her levels training in Orff Schulwerk Pedagogy.  She has studied at the Orff Institute of the Mozarteum of Salzburg, Austria and has participated in masterclasses with Jane Frazee, Mary Goetze, Christa Coogan, Jay Broeker, Matt McCoy, Andrea Ostertag, Reinhold Wirsching, Werner Beidinger and completed Master level IV in Orff Schulwerk and Elemental Composition with Steven Calantropio.  Bonny has studied choral conducting with Rhonda Fleming, Jerry Blackstone and Rodney Eichenberger and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.

Currently serving as President of the Middle Atlantic Chapter of AOSA (American Orff Schulwerk Association), Mrs. Tynch is also a member of the Music Educators National Conference and the American Choral Directors Association.

She lives in Vienna, VA with her husband, Will, and their two daughters. 

Julie Neish recently graduated from GMU with a Master of Music degree, and currently works for the GMU School of Music as a Faculty/Staff accompanist. She also codirects two vocal groups in the GMU Choral program with Dr. Stan Engebretson, accompanies and sings with the GMU Women's Chorale, and is a pianist and vocal coach for the GMU Opera. She is a pianist and organist for Alexandria Presbyterian Church and plays the piano for the choral program at H-B Woodlawn in Arlington. Julie studied with Dr. Lisa Billingham at GMU and loves choral conducting as well as directing and playing musical theatre.