Donna Bessette

Music Director

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Donna Bessette has been involved in the performing arts since her childhood, performing in local choirs, bands, and theater groups in her hometown on Long Island. She is a vocalist and plays flute, piano, and guitar. She graduated from Connecticut College in 1990 with a double major in music performance and psychology and then went on to get a masters degree in Music Therapy from New York University. Her career as a Board Certified Music Therapist spanned over 15 years working with children and adolescents in hospitals, day treatment programs and special education programs in California, New York City, and eventually Pomfret, CT. She made the transition to a music educator in 2007 when she began working at Rectory School. 

 

She is currently serving as the Director of the Related Arts Program and she also teaches general music in grades K-9 as well as being the Director of the Choral and Theater programs there. While making music with children for over 30 years, she has also been active as a performer in her local communities. She performed with the San Francisco-based acapella group Calamity Jane, is a founding member of the band Nine6teen, has performed at the Bradley Playhouse, and with the groups Voices and Local Vocal, whose performances have raised money for local charities. 

 

While she enjoys working with children, she is absolutely thrilled to be working with the creative, talented, and (mostly) well-behaved adults of the Concert Choir of Northeastern Connecticut.