Singing for 2nd Graders

Teri Fay, Conductor & Artistic Director

terifay.choir@gmail.com

Teri Fay has spent her adult life as a teacher and musician in Bismarck.

She is the founding director of Central Dakota Children’s Choir and has also served as Artistic Director since 2001.  She directs Bel Canto and is the founding director of Angelica. She developed and directs “Treble Makers” and “Singing for 2nd Graders” CDCC classes.  Teri’s vision for CDCC has taken it from 1 choir of 65 to seven different performing/teaching segments in the Bismarck/Mandan area.  Teri is honored to have performed at so many local and state functions over the past 20 years with CDCC! (We won’t even try to list them all!)

Teri spent 38 years as an elementary music teacher, 35 of which were at Dorothy Moses, where she taught grades K-6 music and 5th and 6th grade band.  A lover of the Orff philosophy, Teri, together with Sister Millicent and Sister Jeanette Hinds founded the Prairie Winds Orff Chapter, which led to helping many of the area schools and teachers develop an Orff curriculum, changing the way music is being taught in the area.  Teri also conceived the idea of the Bismarck Public Schools Band camp, establishing this unique opportunity for children to begin learning their instrument. Teri was also the first elementary band instructor to enter a 6th grade marching band in the local Band Night Parade. 

Teri plays horn in the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony, West River Winds, and the Bismarck-Mandan Wind Ensemble. She also performed with the Missouri River Community Band for 15 years.  Teri spent 25 years as a cantor, pianist, organist, and choir director at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.  Because of her dedication to the school district and community, Teri received the 2000 Crystal Apple Award from the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce.  Teri is the composer of “That’s What North Dakota is to Me,” sung at the state Centennial Celebration in 1989 and often performed by Bel Canto.

 A North Dakota native, Teri is a graduate of Minot State University with additional graduate work done at the University of Colorado.  Teri earned a Level III Orff Certification (studying with Jos Wuytack), a Level I Certificate in the Kodaly Method and completed Levels I and II of Creating Artistry with Henry Leck.

 Of all her accomplishments, she is most proud of her children, MeriCarol, Stephanie and Ron Storhaug.

 In March 2018, Teri was inducted into the North Dakota Music Educators Hall of Fame.