Catherine DePentu

Catherine DePentu has been teaching orchestra, guitar and piano in the Plymouth Canton Community Schools since 1997. During that time, enrollment in the string program has more than tripled and an additional Orchestra has been created at the Park.

In 2006, Cathy was selected as MSBOA District 12 Orchestra Director of the Year. She was also selected as one of three finalists for the state award.In 2004 Cathy was part of a panel presenting a session titled “The Care and Feeding of a Student Teacher in Instrumental Music” at MSBOA Midwinter Conference. In 1997 she presented a lecture/demonstration entitled “Urban does not equal Mediocre: Maintaining High Standards in an Urban Instrumental Program”, assisted by the Lessenger Middle School Concert Band. She has also presented sessions at the County and State level in Kentucky and New York.

Before coming to Plymouth-Canton, Cathy was Director of Instrumental Music at Lessenger Middle School in Detroit where she was responsible for three bands and an orchestra. The program grew by 60% under her leadership. During that time, she also coordinated a two-year residency at Lessenger by the Detroit Chamber Winds. Cathy was given the Superintendent’s Award for Outstanding Service in June 1996. She served as Secretary for District XV for two years.

While employed as a Music Teacher for Jamestown Public Schools, Jamestown, NY (1983-1991), Cathy taught strings, K-12 general music and orchestra at elementary through high school, traveling to as many as eleven schools each week.She was theFounding Director of the Jamestown Combined Middle School Orchestra an ensemble comprised of strings from all Jamestown Middle Schools and select wind, brass and percussion students This group competed annually at the New York State School Music Association Spring Evaluation Festival and consistently earned ratings of A or A+. Cathy also served for two years as chairperson for the Chautauqua All-County Orchestra Festival and for three years on the founding Board of Directors for the Jamestown-area Youth Orchestra.

Cathy received her Masters Degree in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music where she studied oboe with Robert Sprenkle, and her Bachelors degree from the University of Kentucky. She is a member of the Plymouth Community Band and has extensive experience as a free-lance oboist with musical theater, church groups, community and college ensembles throughout Southeast Michigan, Western New York and Pennsylvania, and Central Kentucky. She lives in Canton with her husband Jon and daughters Maggie and Lizzie.

Catherine DePentu, Orchestra Director, 734 416 2909, Catherine Depentu

 

Erin Zurbuchen

Erin Roberts Zurbuchen has been Co-Director of Plymouth Canton Middle School Orchestrasince 1999. Additionally, she teaches elementary music at Isbister and Smith Elementary Schools. An active performer, she is in her 12 th season as a bassist with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. As a jazz bassist, she is a member of local groups Five Guys Named Moe and Treetown Swingette. Mrs. Zurbuchen was a past winner of the International Association of Jazz Educators Sisters in Jazz Competition, and has performed nationally with the group, Sisters in Jazz. Mrs. Zurbuchen received her Bachelors of Music with Highest Honors from the University of Michigan, and her Masters of Music from Michigan State University, where she completed her Masters recital with Highest Honors. She and her husband reside in Ann Arbor with their two children.

>Erin Zurbuche, Co-Director PCCS Middle School Strings,