Resume – Lois M. Sabo-Skelton, D.M.E.

Performer-educator experienced in a variation of academic environments with expertise in music teaching: Music theory/composition, Music Appreciation/History, Historical Performance Practice, String instruments, and Historical/Philosophical inquiry, as well as additional initiatives in Arts education and administration. Dedicated public servant with strong leadership and communication abilities, working with organizations that benefit and enhance the life of the community through the Arts.

Summary of Related Credentials

Doctor of Music Education; minors in Violin (String Specialist) and Music History/Literature
Master of Music with distinction in Violin Performance
Private teaching of all levels from beginning children/adults to professionals
Visiting Assistant Professor of Violin and associate instructor at two universities: currently adjunct instructor at Ivy Tech Community college in Bloomington, Indiana. (Music Theory and Music Appreciation).
Experience as music director for various theatre organizations in Bloomington, Indiana.
Concertmaster at numerous performances and venues
Conducting experience
Performance with major symphonies, artists on tour and in recordings
Writing, editing and publishing in important periodicals (Arts Indiana reviewer)
Extensive experience in archival work and historic research
Career Counselor in the Kelley School of Business and at other institutions
Monroe County Community School Board of Trustees since 2005
Performances international/local (example): “Music as Communication: American Fiddle Music in Serbia”. Humanitarian trip filmed by Judy O’Bannon (WFYI-CD). Ivy Tech Arts Week Performance at Monroe County Public Library
Performance Lecture at Belle Grove Plantation on music of the Jefferson/Madison era, and Tales and Tunes of a Civil War Fiddler, 2017 and 2018

Education

INDIANA UNIVERSITY, Bloomington, Indiana

D.M.E., May 2002. Dissertation: Sol Babitz, The Early Music Laboratory, And String Pedagogy, With Annotated Catalogues
M.M., Violin Performance, With Distinction, 1976
B.M., Violin Performance, 1970
Extensive graduate work in Performance Practice and Historical research

Teaching Experience

Ivy Tech Community College, Bloomington, IN. (*Current: 2014-2019) Adjunct Instructor (Part-time). Teach Music Appreciation and Music Theory courses utilizing multi-media techniques as well as live performance in the classroom. Work with students of all abilities and incorporate relevant materials, (i.e. original chapter on Hoagy Carmichael as a Bloomington “son”), as well as working with the theory students in beginning to write original compositions, i.e. each student produces an original “Blues” composition or one of their own preference as part of the theory course.
*** In progress teaching and developing a sixteen week Online Music Theory course as well as designing and teaching an 8 week face-to-face Music Appreciation/History course during this spring semester at Ivy Tech.

Strings-in-Sync, Bloomington, In. (*Current: Maintain private studio in Bloomington)
Founder/Director. Organized regional music students age 8 to adults into fiddle group
specializing in family-oriented programs featuring historic ethnic folk music. Organization promotes educational and service projects through music and storytelling. Group has performed in numerous venues and at many events throughout southern Indiana. Recordings have been produced and distributed. Maintain private teaching studio with a variation on activities dependent on student needs. Have worked with autistic and various learning challenged students of all ages. Teach: Keyboard, theory, analyses, historical research, as well as string techniques.

Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, 1990-1991.
Visiting Assistant Professor. Taught Violin and viola; served as assistant conductor of university orchestra and conductor of string ensemble and assisted with counseling and recruiting activities.

St. Charles School, Bloomington, IN, 1988-1991
Director of Strings. Taught class of 30 violins, viola, cello and string bass students. Conducted elementary string orchestra, planned musical programming and coordinated musical instruction with classroom teachers. Received awards and recognition at the CYO yearly competitions.

Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, c.1988-1990
Associate Instructor, Music Education Department. Taught three sections of Music Fundamentals for the Classroom Teacher. Developed computer assisted instructional materials

Performance

Freelance Violinist in studios and performances with Al Cobine and the Henry Mancini Orchestra, (for several years ), and worked with artists such as Andy Williams, Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Dean, Glenn Campbell, Judy Garland, Petula Clark, Wayne Newton and many others
Member of following symphonies: Indianapolis, Evansville, Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Jackson Hole
Concertmaster for Indiana University Theater production Guys and Dolls
Musical consultant for Bloomington Playwright’s Project
Concert Orchestra – Sing for the Cure, Bloomington Symphony Orchestra
Performances of “Strings-in-Sync” group of my young string students
Concertmaster, Whitewater Opera Company, Richmond, Indiana
Concertmaster, Sorg Opera Company, Middletown, Ohio
Guest conductor, All City High School Orchestra, Indianapolis Public Schools
Principal second violin and rotation violin position, Bloomington Symphony, 1984-1987
First desk for Indianapolis Starlight Musicals
Member Indianapolis String Trio
Directed St. Charles Strings, local parochial school performance group

Presentations (Music and Commentary)

In 2018: “Tales and Tunes of a Civil War Fiddler”. A Salon performance and Commentary by Violinist Dr. Lois Sabo-Skelton. Presented to the Belle Grove Plantation donors and supporters.

In 2017: “An Evening with Mr. Jefferson in his Music Room with Violin in Hand”. A Salon performance by violinist Dr. Lois Sabo-Skelton in appreciation of the donors of the Belle Grove Plantation.

In 2008: “Music As Communication: American Fiddle music in Serbia” This presentation with violin performance was given at Arizona State University on February, 7-9, 2008 for the “Narrative in Music Education” Conference. It was repeated on September 10, 2008 for the Ivy tech Arts Week at the MCPL. It is the story of my trip with the Ambassadors for Children group, filmed by Judy O’Bannon. I performed in orphanages, a Roma kindergarten, monasteries, a refugee camp, and at a reception at the White Palace for the Prince and Princess of Serbia.

*The Music and Commentary described above have also been presented in Dr. Sabo-Skelton’s college classes and in various other lectures given to local organizations.

Seminars: Attend as Journalist/Presenter

International Symposium on Philosophy of Music Education V, Wake Forest, IL. Selected as Forum Respondent, 2003
The International Violin Competition of Indianapolis Orchestral Audition Workshop for Violinists with Andres Cardenes, 2002 and with William Preucil, 2003
Unaccompanied Bach Workshop with Stanley Ritchie, Indiana University, 2001

Educator/Judge

Judge, National Federation of Music Clubs Northeastern regional competition, 2001-2004
Judge, Indiana Music Teachers Association Auditions, 1991

Editorial/Archival

Violin Forum Editor, American String Teacher, Fall issue, 1995-1997
Book Review Editor, The Triangle of Mu Phi Epsilon, 1988-1993
Arts Correspondent, Arts Indiana, 1990’s
Editor, Mu Phi Epsilon International Conferences Newsletter, 1989
Editor, Left Hand Technique by Ruggiero Ricci, published by G. Schirmer, 1985
Archivist: The Papers of President William V.S. Tubman. Archives of Traditional Music, The Liberian Collection, Indiana University, 2007.

Publications & Works in Progress

Frederic Fradkin: The Adventures of a Masked Violinist, manuscript in progress. Original research includes taped conversations with Josef Gingold, interviews with family and acquisition of papers, and recordings about the famed concertmaster-soloist who was mentor to Gingold.
Statistics Show It! Do You Know It? Music Produces Higher Score, proposal submitted to National School Board Association Conference 2006. (Presentation uses PowerPoint, role-playing, discussion and lectures as well as song, dance and instrumentals. Program invited to 2006 MENC conference. (Did not perform due to death of one performer).
The Life and Musical Times of Sol Babitz, working title of historic account of early music movement as interpreted through life and work of Los Angeles Baroque violinist Sol Babitz and his Early Music Library. Developed from dissertation research.
The Philosophy of Music Education Review Response Paper, publication pending of article “Time-Space in Music” by Marina Kosakova-Kreyn, June 2003

Selected Articles

“Ace an Audition,” Teen Strings. Fall (2005): 16. A supplement of Strings Magazine, published in cooperation the American String Teachers Association with NSOA. Partial reprint of article “Orchestra Maneuvers.” Strings Magazine 18 (2003): 71-74.
“Orchestral Maneuvers: Ten (or so) things you should know about auditions.” Article on seminar by William Preucil, concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra, for the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, June 21-24, 2003, Strings Magazine 18 (2003): 71-74.
“An Orchestral Master Class with William Preucil.” The American String Teacher 53 (2003): 41-44.
“Notes-Accolades,” The American String Teacher 52 (2002): 94. Journalist report for the 2002 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis to ASTA.
“Rustic Pursuits,” The Strad 111 (2000): 1194-1197. An update on the legendary violin pedagogue Ivan Galamian’s Meadowmount School of Music.
“Violin Fever,” The Strad 110 (1999): 48-53. Musical and Material Riches at the International Indianapolis Violin Competition.
“The Story of a Strad,” Arts Indiana 21 (1999):25, 36-7. The Story of the Martinelle Stradivarius Violin Owned by Josef Gingold.
“Indiana’s Inspiration: The Violin Teaching of Mimi Zweig,” The Strad 109 (1998): 1226-1230.
“Violin Forum: Professor Gingold’s Lessons,” The American String Teacher 46 (1996): 75-77. A Memorial Tribute to the Late Josef Gingold.
“A Winner Without A Word: Can A Competition Really Be Decided By Numbers, Without Face-To-Face Discussion By The Jury? The American String Teacher 45 (1995): 39-43.
“From the MAC to the MET, Arts Indiana 15 (1993): 26-7.
“Two American Masters of the Violin: An Interview with Dorothy DeLay and Josef Gingold, The Triangle of Mu Phi Epsilon, 85 (1991): 5.
“Thomas Jefferson and His Baroque Violin,” The Triangle of Mu Phi Epsilon, 76 (1982): 24.

Selected Reviews

“Dancing With Bird,” Jazz disc. Arts Indiana 15 (1993): 31-32.
“Beaux Arts Trio,” Classical. Arts Indiana 15 (1993): 30.
“The Prince Who Wanted a Bird,” Story concert. Arts Indiana 15 (1993): 34.
“The Devils of Loudun.” Opera. Arts Indiana 15 (1993): 32.
“The Camerata Chamber Orchestra,” Classical. Arts Indiana 15 (1993): 33.
“Square One,” Theater. Arts Indiana 15 (1993): 33.
“Three Cats Per House,” Theater. Arts Indiana 14 (1992): 38.
“1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” opera. Arts Indiana 14 (1992): 28.
“Joshua Bell,” Classical. Arts Indiana 14 (1992): 32.

Community Service

Monroe County Community School Corporation

School Board Member, 2005-2019. Elected as one of seven members directing school corporation. Extensive oversight and leadership responsibility. Attend leadership training and related conferences. Serve on legislative and other committees. Maintain arts advocate position. Currently serves as President of the MCCSC School Board of Trustees
*Other community service includes serving on various city boards (Historic Preservation) and working for the city and county during elections throughout the past ten years, as well as active in neighborhood association projects.

Other Employment (Select Sampling)

Archivist for the Liberian Project: The Tubman Papers, Archives of Traditional Music, (IU). Project: to prepare entire collection (over 60,000 items) for microfilming. (2006-7).

Indiana University Orientation Program, Bloomington, IN, 2004. Office Manager. Managed office in temporary position while manager was on leave. Assisted prospective students and their families with information, attended staff meetings, assisted in editing newsletters and other projects. Used Excel, Word and Outlook software.

Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, Bloomington, IN, 1983-1985. Manager. Responsible for management and administration of 50+ musician community orchestra. Managed day-to-day activities, organized programs and performances, operated office, raised funds, handled all marketing and publicity. Prior to employment as Manager, served as Grants Director for one year as volunteer/board member.

Green Acres Neighborhood Organization. Received “Neighbor of the Year Award” from city for organizing and representing community to solve local transportation and other problems

Bloomington Playwrights Project, Board of Directors and Musical Consultant (c.1995-2000)

Honors and Awards

Performance

St. Charles Strings selected for Catholic Youth Organization Honors Recital, Lilly Theater, children’s Museum, Indianapolis, IN, 1989-1990, 1990-1991

Academic

Pi Lambda Theta Doctoral Dissertation Grant, 1985-1986
Mu Phi Epsilon Doctoral Dissertation Grant, 1985-1986
National Society of Arts and Letters Award: Baroque Violin, 1983
Indiana University Fellowship, 1979-1980
Indiana University Learning Resources Grant for PLATO computer system, 1980
Alumni chapter President, Mu Phi Epsilon, 1978-1979
Indiana University Scholarship (teaching assistantship/personal faculty award)
Society for Strings Scholarship (Cleveland, Ohio)
Three Arts Society Scholarship (Lakewood, Ohio) Tanglewood Scholarship
Mu Phi Epsilon (music honorary membership)

Organization Memberships and Professional Affiliations

Music Educators National Conference
American String Teachers Association
Mu Phi Epsilon
American Federation of Musicians, Local #3
The Philosophy of Music Education Review
The National Federation of Music and affiliate the Friday Musicale of Bloomington, Indiana
The Indiana University Friends of Music
College Music Society
The National Alliance Preservation Commissions
The National School Board Association
Pi Lambda Theta Education honorary
Phi Delta Kappa
Chamber Music America