Bio
Erika St. Denis is currently an elementary band teacher in the Ithaca City School District in Ithaca, NY. She has obtained Bachelor and Master of Music in Music Education degrees from Ithaca College and the University of Michigan respectively.
St. Denis studied saxophone with Dr. Steven Mauk, Dr. Timothy Rosenberg, and Dr. Allison Dromgold Adams while at Ithaca College. As a saxophonist, she has performed with the Ithaca College Symphonic Band, the Ithaca College Wind Ensemble, the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra, Bill Tiberio’s Ithaca College Jazz Laboratory Band, the Zephyr Saxophone Quartet, and the Ithaca Concert Band. As a conductor, St. Denis has worked closely with a number of professors both at Ithaca College and at conducting symposia around the country, including Dr. Elizabeth Peterson, Dr. Stephen Peterson, Mr. Lawrence Doebler, Dr. James Patrick Miller, Dr. Tony Thornton, Mr. Frank Battisti, Dr. Jerry Luckhardt, Dr. Jack Stamp, and Dr. Mitchell Robinson. In addition, St. Denis is currently the Drum Sergeant of the Finger Lakes Pipes and Drums band based out of Ithaca, NY. She is the bass drum player for the group.
St. Denis enjoys researching within the music field. Most recently, she completed her thesis at the University of Michigan titled: "Aural skills in beginning band: A comparative case study" under the guidance of her thesis chairperson, Dr. Colleen Conway. Prior to this, St. Denis completed two independent studies as an undergraduate at Ithaca College. The first, supervised by Dr. Emily Mason, was titled: “Savants and Autism: Is there a relationship and what does it mean for the music educator?” The second, supervised by Dr. Susan Avery, was titled: “Metal contact dermatitis in the instrumental and general music classrooms: Removing dermatological barriers” completed alongside co-researcher and now wife, Grace Demerath. She was a recipient of a Dana Internship award to continue research during the summer of 2012 and has presented at two Whalen Academic Symposiums at Ithaca College as well as at the New Jersey Music Educators Association Conference of 2013 and 2014. St. Denis's first article, "The Savant Syndrome: A review of the literature for the music educator," was published in 2015 with the academic journal Update: Applications of Research in Music Education. St. Denis maintains active membership in the National Association for Music Education and is a certified New York State School Music Association Woodwind Adjudicator for NYSSMA Solo & Ensemble Festivals.
St. Denis studied saxophone with Dr. Steven Mauk, Dr. Timothy Rosenberg, and Dr. Allison Dromgold Adams while at Ithaca College. As a saxophonist, she has performed with the Ithaca College Symphonic Band, the Ithaca College Wind Ensemble, the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra, Bill Tiberio’s Ithaca College Jazz Laboratory Band, the Zephyr Saxophone Quartet, and the Ithaca Concert Band. As a conductor, St. Denis has worked closely with a number of professors both at Ithaca College and at conducting symposia around the country, including Dr. Elizabeth Peterson, Dr. Stephen Peterson, Mr. Lawrence Doebler, Dr. James Patrick Miller, Dr. Tony Thornton, Mr. Frank Battisti, Dr. Jerry Luckhardt, Dr. Jack Stamp, and Dr. Mitchell Robinson. In addition, St. Denis is currently the Drum Sergeant of the Finger Lakes Pipes and Drums band based out of Ithaca, NY. She is the bass drum player for the group.
St. Denis enjoys researching within the music field. Most recently, she completed her thesis at the University of Michigan titled: "Aural skills in beginning band: A comparative case study" under the guidance of her thesis chairperson, Dr. Colleen Conway. Prior to this, St. Denis completed two independent studies as an undergraduate at Ithaca College. The first, supervised by Dr. Emily Mason, was titled: “Savants and Autism: Is there a relationship and what does it mean for the music educator?” The second, supervised by Dr. Susan Avery, was titled: “Metal contact dermatitis in the instrumental and general music classrooms: Removing dermatological barriers” completed alongside co-researcher and now wife, Grace Demerath. She was a recipient of a Dana Internship award to continue research during the summer of 2012 and has presented at two Whalen Academic Symposiums at Ithaca College as well as at the New Jersey Music Educators Association Conference of 2013 and 2014. St. Denis's first article, "The Savant Syndrome: A review of the literature for the music educator," was published in 2015 with the academic journal Update: Applications of Research in Music Education. St. Denis maintains active membership in the National Association for Music Education and is a certified New York State School Music Association Woodwind Adjudicator for NYSSMA Solo & Ensemble Festivals.
