ABIGAIL VARSOS

Jamaica Plain, MA | (203) 913-1129 | varsos.abi@gmail.com | musicofabi.weebly.com

EDUCATION
Berklee College of Music 9/2017 – 5/2021
● Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Minor in Psychology (Voice Principal)
Instruments
● North American Scholarship Tour, Berklee Achievement Grant
● GPA: 3.78, Magna Cum Laude, Dean’s List
Ukulele
EDUCATION EXPERIENCE (Proficient)
Performing Arts Teacher, Watertown Middle School - Watertown, MA 7/2021 – Present
Only resident full-time general music, chorus, and drama instructor at WMS, serving around 575 students Piano
from grade 6-8, of which 37% first language is not english. (Novice)
● Developed and implemented curriculum across all subjects and grade levels from scratch,
working with students to create lessons that foster an interest in music and drama Low Brass
● Rebuilt choral program post-COVID, introducing traditions like community caroling and (Novice)
extracurricular performing, increasing enrollment to maximum capacity Trombone
● As a result of community outreach through performance, attracted further invitations for choral Euphonium
performances within Watertown and beyond
● Produced first school musical post-COVID, serving as director, musical director, lighting designer, Strings
set designer, and production manager (Novice)
● Responsible for set up and break down of all events taking place in the auditorium including Violin
sound design and maintenance, lighting design and maintenance, and set management Viola
● Lesson subjects consisted of: music history, active listening, ukulele basics, organology, Cello
rhythmic notation, acting basics, lighting design, prop design, solfege, vocal tone, vowel shape,
singing in harmony Woodwinds
Private Voice Instructor, Freelance - Virtual 6/2022 – Present (Novice)
Saxophone
Currently hosted over Zoom, hour-long lessons with middle-school-age students on vocal, audition, and
Clarinet
acting technique using musical theater repertoire as the vehicle.
Recorder
● Planned, implemented, and adapted one-on-one approaches to meet the needs of each student
● Managed communication and feedback with students and families, including scheduling, billing,
and post-lesson notes
Student Teacher, Garfield Elementary School – Revere, MA 3/2021 – 5/2021
Live
Fully in person having just transferred from virtual learning, working with students from grades 1-5 in an Production
urban area and stepping in when Supervising Practitioner was home with COVID.
Skills
● Fully responsible within the first week for daily lesson plans, teaching, and all aspects of
classroom management based on a dictated unit topic
Sound Design
● Developed lesson tools to ensure student engagement, making sure to accommodate a variety
of learning styles
Lighting Design
Student Teacher, Wellesley Middle School – Remote 1/2021 – 3/2021 Programing
Teaching suburban students ranging from grade 6-8 fully remote and hybrid with a focus on chorus and Mechanics
general music.
● Developed and implemented comprehensive lesson plans based on cooperating teacher Stage
provided objectives for students; while hybrid, operated as lead teacher for online students Management
● Facilitated virtual performances by creating model projects and recordings Prop Design
Choir Director, Audire Soundtrack Choir/Orchestra Club – Remote 7/2020 – 5/2021 Management
● Designed and facilitated lesson plans, schedules, and independent virtual rehearsal material Stagehand
based on student compositions submitted and selected by the members of the board
● Collaborated with the president to coordinate and execute administrative aspects of the choir
● Engaged members through weekly newsletters, social functions, and virtual rehearsals
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Choral Clinician, Massachusetts Music Educators Association – Marlborough, MA 2/2022
● Facilitated professional development for secondary choral educators on agency in the classroom
● Used evidence from the classroom like listening examples of the WMS chorus and documents
from previously taught lesson plans
● Emphasized cultural relevancy when choosing repertoire, the use of DAWs in the choral
classroom, and allowing students to make choices when creating original arrangements
Admissions Ambassador, Berklee College of Music – Boston, MA 9/2019 – Present
● As a selected representative of Berklee, spoke publicly at various college events such as open Soft Skills
houses, accepted student events, and Audition and Interview (A&I) days across the country
● Once virtual, emailed and video-chatted with perspective students interested in Music Education Conflict
major Resolution
Division Representative, Berklee Student Government – Remote 9/2020 – 12/2020
Crisis
● Elected by student body to represent the Professional Education Division (including the Music
Management
Education, Music Therapy, Professional Music, and Liberal Arts departments) at weekly student
government meetings
Leadership
● Responsible for planning and facilitating student-driven events and meetings with other elected
Development
members of Student Government
Campus Life Assistant, Berklee College of Music (PT) – Boston, MA 8/2019 – 12/2020 Program
● Planned, implemented, and facilitated orientation events both in person and online, serving as a Development
community liaison for incoming students
● Served as first point of contact for parent and family questions and feedback
Music Director, “Carrie: The Musical,” Boston University On Broadway– Boston, MA 9/2018 – 11/2018
● Responsible for teaching and facilitating all music aspects of the rehearsal process Tech Skills
● Built, directed, and conducted pit made up of modern band instruments
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND AFFILIATIONS MS Office
MIT Full STEAM Ahead Pilot Program – Cambridge, MA 7/2022
GSuite
American Choral Directors Association 2020 – Present
Applications
Massachusetts Music Educators Association 2018 – Present
PERFORMING ENSEMBLE EXPERIENCE GarageBand
Audire Soundtrack Choir 3/2020 – 5/2021
● Student-run extracurricular choir, performing music from movies, shows, and video games in SoundTrap
asynchronous virtual performances
Berklee Vocal Jazz Ensemble Finale
1/2020 – 12/2020
● Audition-only Berklee ensemble, performing tight harmonies in jazz arrangements with 10
iMovie
people, submitted virtual material for competitions
Crepusculum Chamber Choir 9/2017 – 3/2020 Zoom
● Student-run extracurricular choir, only group at Berklee performing chamber music, performed all
over Boston including regular shows at the Custom House Web Design
Fairfield County Children's Choir 9/2009 – 6/2017
● Community children's choir, performing choral music from a variety of countries and cultures, Mac & PC
performed at venues like Carnegie Hall and Tanglewood, toured continental US and Europe Systems
Broadway Method Academy/Regional Center for the Arts 9/2013 – 8/2018
● Extracurricular theater group, performing classical and contemporary musicals, brought in active
Broadway actors, producers, and directors, trained in acting, voice, and dance
ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Waitress/Bartender, Woodway Country Club – Stamford, CT 6/2020 – 8/2020
Crew Member, Trader Joe’s Back Bay – Boston, MA 1/2019 – 9/2019
Sound/Lighting Technician, Berklee Performance Center – Boston, MA 9/2017 – 1/2019