A little bit about Mrs. R...

I have been studying and/or teaching art, music and performance for most of my life. My first project was a musical I directed, arranged and executed in 5th grade in my neighborhood in Cleveland Ohio. Somehow, I talked all of my friends, and my siblings and all their friends into giving up their entire summer to prepare for our performances. These took place in our garage—with rented chairs filling the driveway for 2 full- house matinees attended by all the ticket buyers in the surrounding neighborhoods we had canvassed. A very successful project attracting the local newspapers led to a sizable $900 donation to charity, and a personal life-long taste for the power and beauty of collaborative arts. In many ways, I have come full circle with the manifestation of Full Circle Studio.

 

I began teaching private piano lessons in 1979, while studying piano performance at Cleveland State University and Baldwin Wallace University, and playing professionally at piano bars and private dinner clubs. After graduating from the Art Institute of Atlanta with a degree in Visual Arts, I was hired to manage the Art department of Harbor Freight Tools in California, where I met my husband, a cattle rancher and computer programmer from a far-away, magical place called Bend. I took some years to stay home and raise my children, and after they began elementary school, I began teaching general music at the Ventura public school that my children attended.

 

After moving to Bend in 2006, I taught music at Seven Peaks and Eastmont Elementary while taking on the position of Music Director at St. Francis of Assisi parish.  In 2009, I began teaching music for grades K-8 at St. Francis school where I fell in love with the kiddos. I continued as Music Director and Music Teacher until 2019, when my role as Music Director became a full-time position. The music ministry had grown to the point of my responsibilities including the management of 5 choirs and all music liturgies for both churches of St. Francis. 

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Having to make the difficult choice between continuing to work for the parish or the school. I chose to resign from the music Director position to teach art and music to grades K-8 at St. Francis in 2019. Unfortunately, COVID interrupted this path in 2020 — but a new path as been laid before me.  Filling a potential need for the students of St. Francis was the inspiration for Full Circle Studio, which was designed specifically for the St. Francis families, whether home-schooling this year or not. 

 

On a personal note, I am blessed beyond belief to be the mother of 5 incredible children and 1 amazing step-daughter, and to be married to a loving and faithful husband and am looking forward to the arrival of my first grand-baby in mid- September! I am grateful to be living in a beautiful home on a century-old cattle ranch in Bend Oregon, one of the most wonderful places to live in the USA.  I am also grateful for my St. Francis family, and the grace and kindness that I have come to cherish from the parents, students, congregation and staff at the parish and the school. I pray that I can give back a portion of what I have received to this community. God is good. All the time.

 

When I’m not spending time with my family & friends or helping out with our Barley Beef business, I enjoy gardening, painting, composing, writing, playing piano and harp, hiking and biking.