March 29, 2024

Martin Middle School Choral Director Rob Rappa takes 2020 Music Award

His choruses have won numerous honors at state and regional festivals

Posted

E.R. Martin's choral director, Robert Rappa, has been selected as Clinician for the Providence Singers Young Men’s Choral Festival for 2020. “Rob Rappa, once a tenor, tenor section leader, and member of the Providence Singers Board of Trustees, returns this month as clinician for the Singers 2020 Young Men’s Choral Festival,” said the organization press statement. Since 1999, Rappa has been choral director at the Edward R. Martin Middle School in East Providence, R.I. His choruses have won honors at state and regional festivals and are regarded as among the highest performing groups in the state. He has been an effective and tireless advocate for choral education, recently serving as president of the Rhode Island Music Education Association (RIMEA) and the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (RI-ACDA).

“We would like to take a moment to recognize Mr. Rappa for being selected as this year’s clinician for the Providence Singers Young Men’s Choral Festival. We congratulate him on receiving this very prestigious honor and we wish him the best of luck at his concert which is being held at the Nazarian Center at Rhode Island College on January 24th” said a Martin Middle School statement. "Mr. Rappa is the first to credit his students with any success he may enjoy."

“I am very proud of my colleague. This is a very deserved recognition,” said Martin band director Susana Aguiar Pimentel. “Mr. Rappa is modest and humble and the last person to seek individual awards. But he is truly deserving of this acknowledgment. Martin students and all of East Providence are lucky to have him here,” added Pimentel.

“His classroom has been open to student teachers and collegiate practicum classes, helping to train the next generation of music educators, and he has traveled to Washington several times in recent years to advocate and lobby for music education issues,” said the Young Men’s Choral Festival organizers.

Rappa also oversees the RIMEA All-State vocal auditions at both junior and senior levels. He has been a guest conductor of the Rhode Island College Men’s Choir, the Rhode Island Jr. All-State Honor Choir, and the Junior Providence Singers Treble Chorus, and has planned, presented and served as a clinician for many workshops around New England. “As 2020 clinician, Rappa’s involvement with the Young Men’s Choral Festival comes full circle: He attended and performed with the first YMCF in 2009,” added event administrators.

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