Cheryl Tierney is an accomplished music educator and conductor with over 39 years of experience in vocal music instruction at the elementary level in West Hartford. She holds both a Bachelor and Master of Music Education degree from the Hartt School of Music with a concentrated focus on choral and Kodály pedagogy. Cheryl also holds undergraduate and graduate certification from the Kodály Musical Training Institute.
Cheryl currently serves on the faculty of the Hartt School, where she teaches Choral Pedagogy. Known for her deep commitment to music education and student engagement, she has presented for organizations such as the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA), the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE), the Orff Schulwerk Association and many school districts.
Her previous roles include faculty positions at the Intermuse Academy at Brigham Young University, where she taught elementary vocal methodology and choral pedagogy. She has also served as Secretary and Repertoire & Standards Chair for the Connecticut Chapter of ACDA. Cheryl’s conducting experience includes leading the Overture Choir of the Connecticut Children’s Chorus and directing the West Hartford Inter-Elementary Festival Choir for many years.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to music education, Cheryl was named Choral Director of the Year by the Connecticut ACDA in 2007 and was honored as a finalist for West Hartford’s Teacher of the Year. Notably, the choral piece May Night by Rob Hugh, published by E.C. Schirmer, was written in her honor by the West Hartford Public Schools.