CONNIE FORTUNATO
Founder and Director

Connie Fortunato has a passion to bring the finest in music education experiences to children and young people. She believes that all children have music inside, and when involved in a positive, dynamic environment and a multiple modality style of teaching, each child can discover and develop these gifts.

Fortunato began working overseas in 1993, focusing her work with orphans in Romania. In 2000 she conducted a music camp for children in three villages—a “first” for a post-communist country. Since then her passion has led her to Ukraine and the major cities of Romania . Everywhere she goes she works with all children regardless of economic background or talent. She works with Departments of Social Services to include children with various challenges, as well as foundations, foster homes, and orphanages.

Fortunato is also the conductor of Celebration Choir - an adult community chorus for the Monterey Bay area. Celebration Choir performs Spirituals Night concerts in the late summer.  www.celebration-choir.org

Fortunato is a graduate of Wheaton College in Illinois, with majors in both music and literature. She has been involved in music for over thirty years and published music education curriculum for preschool through adult. In 1985 her adult curriculum won the Gold Medallion award. She has conducted training seminars, served as guest conductor and clinician for choral festivals, been an adjunct professor at both the undergraduate and graduate level, and done consulting work throughout the United States.