Rita Gigliotti has been a co-producer of SingStrong since its creation.
Rita Gigliotti is sought after as a choral clinician, director, adjudicator and singer. She joined the South Lakes High School faculty (Fairfax County Public Schools) in 2005. Since then the South Lakes Choral Department has more than doubled in size and has received overwhelming acclaim.
Gigliotti directs five choirs and sponsors two student directed a cappella groups. Choirs under her tutelage consistently earn superior ratings and are regularly invited to perform with guest artists, university choirs, and for state and national music festivals, and WNBA & NBA games. Her advanced women’s ensemble, Bella Voce, performed for the Virginia Music Educators Association Fall 2011 In-service Conference and her Chamber Singers performed with 6 time GRAMMY nominated Jazz artist, Nnenna Freelon this past January. Choirs of America has invited the South Lakes Chamber Singers to perform and compete in their American Music Performance Invitational at the University of Maryland in March, 2012. Only 12 mixed choirs from across the country have been invited to perform in this music festival. In April, 2012 the Choral department will perform and compete at Festival Disney in Walt Disney World.
The South Lakes High School Chamber Singers have won 1st place at the SingStrong High School competition in 2009 and 2011.
The South Lakes Choral Department is honored to be the recipient of the 2011 American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) Inclusion & Diversity in the Arts Award. AAPD is the largest non-profit cross disability organization in the United States. The award was presented at the 2011 AAPD where members of the South Lakes Choral Department performed for an audience that included Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, and Lauren Potter who plays ‘Becky’ on the hit FOX TV show GLEE.
Gigliotti earned a Master of Music in Music Education from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2005), and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education/Voice from Seton Hill University, Greensburg, Pennsylvania (2001). She graduated magna cum-laude from both universities and was in the honors program at SHU, where she was also awarded the Program in Music Award for Outstanding Achievement and Excellence in Music. Her Master’s Thesis: The Virtual Choral Laboratory is an online music curriculum focused on using web based music technology to enable practice methods for vocal music students. This project was also awarded a mini grant which purchased music technology resources for middle school students in Pennsylvania, where Gigliotti began her professional career in 2001.
Gigliotti performs professionally throughout the Washington DC metropolitan area and continues to study voice and teach privately. She has performed with the GRAMMY award winning Washington Chorus and is currently a member of the Washington Vocal Arts Ensemble. She has been asked again this season to work with the NBA Washington Wizards in developing music performance spotlights for high school students. Gigliotti is a professional member of the Fairfax County Choral Directors Association (Vice President), American Choral Directors Association, Virginia Music Educators Association, and National Association for Music Education.
