Sumsion-Cheryl

Faculty

Cheryl Sumsion

Fourth-Sixth Grade Music Teacher

This marks Cheryl Sumsion’s 21st year at Black Pine Circle School and her 30th year as an educator. She earned her B.Ed. and teaching credential through the University of Western Ontario in vocal music for grades 4-10, and her B.A. from the University of Waterloo in honors music/personality and religious studies. Her graduate work includes studies in vocology and Baroque vocal technique. She has enjoyed many years of additional training in both the Kodály and Orff approaches to teaching music. In Toronto, she taught sixth through eighth grade core subjects with a special emphasis on vocal music, drama and ESL, and there began her love of vocal coaching for musicals. As a soprano, Cheryl has performed in 15 musicals, and sung on 16 commercially released CDs. She performed and recorded with the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir in Toronto, and has also performed in cathedrals throughout England. Currently, she sings with the American Bach Soloists, at churches in the Bay Area, and enjoys voice acting and vocal coaching.

Teaching Since

1992

Pronouns

she/her

Contact

Email >

Why I Work with Children

The sound of children’s voices singing is one of my favorite sounds in the world.

A Favorite Book

What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada

Quick Fact

Tamed a mechanical bull in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Brett Hollingshead

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Carla Rodea

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I speak several languages.

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Cassie McFall

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Christine Mytko

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Mad for AR, VR, improv and chickens

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Cloe Monleon

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I’ve traveled to five continents & only learned to speak English in my late 20s.

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Diane Wirtschafter

Fourth Grade Head Teacher

While on Venetian honeymoon, serenaded a German couple on a gondola.

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Emmeline Hill

Sixth Grade Science Teacher

Herded sheep by motorbike in Australia.

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Gerry Branner

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Kathy Henderson

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Kim Livingston

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Started clowning at age 9

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Marcelo Vaz

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Rode a camel through the Sahara

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Maria Palmer

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Loves to write or paint

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Michael Feferman

Lower School Physical Education Teacher

Has developed a secret pizza sauce

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Nataliya Vdovychenko

Upper School Assistant Teacher

Fluent Russian speaker

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Nicole Lockwood

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Apprenticed at the National Theater of Croatia

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Rebecca Caine

Upper School Art Teacher

I scuba dive!

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Rem Djemilev

BPC String Orchestra Leader

Creates musical arrangements for fun

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Sarah Roggero

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My birthday is April 1st, no joke!

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Tiffany Wiyono

Fourth Grade Assistant Teacher

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Torin Coffino

Fifth Grade Head Teacher

Played Gaelic Football as a youth, and won a Minors championship in Ireland

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Xiaoyan Xu

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Once ate deep-fried silkworms

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