Additioinal Member of the Symposium

Rebecca Chávez Ortega is a 1985 graduate of the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Music Education degree.  She began her career as a 7th and 8th grade, middle school choir director for the Albuquerque Public School District, and also taught 6th grade exploratory music classes.  In her fourth year of teaching, she switched to elementary general music, K-5 grades, as an traveling music teacher. 

From 1998 to 2001, she and her husband lived in Madrid while he worked as Special Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to Spain.  She then had the opportunity to attend authentic Spanish zarzuelas and flamenco performances. 

In 2001, she returned to teaching elementary music for the Albuquerque Public School District.  She now teaches Pre-K through 5th grades, and travels between schools.  The Fine Arts Department is growing, but there are only 35 music teachers for 80 schools, so she is at one or two schools a year, then moves to another school the following year.  In addition to teaching her students general music concepts, she also exposes them to a variety of world music, dances, and instruments with the hope that they will continue to expand their musical tastes.  

In December of 2006, she was awarded an Early Music Certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.  She is Level I, Orff-certified, and is active in the local Orff Schulwerk Chapter.  She is now planning to obtain Kodaly Level I certification.  She is a member of the Music Educator’s National Conference.  She attends New Mexico Music Education Association’s annual conference in January, and takes music education workshops and classes year-round.  Her other interests are hiking, travel, international folk dancing, and reading.

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