Beth O'Riordan
Mrs. O’Riordan has served as a Director of Choirs at North High School since 2007. As a National Board Certified Teacher, she has worked with her colleagues to build and refine a program that includes four curricular choirs, four auditioned ensembles, and the All Access Choir, a group where general education and students with special needs work side-by-side. Mrs. O'Riordan teaches Freshman Choir, Concert Choir, Treble Choir, A Cappella Choir, Freshman Ensemble, Concert Singers and All Access Choir. In addition to teaching choral classes, Mrs. O'Riordan instructs two levels of guitar class.
A native of Naperville, Mrs. O'Riordan ventured off to NY to pursue higher education. She earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance with an Arts Leadership Certificate from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Mrs. O'Riordan continued on at Eastman to earn a Master of Music Degree in Music Education (Choral/Vocal Emphasis). She is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and the Illinois Music Education Association, where she has served as a District 1 Choral Representative. In addition to her teaching, she has worked as a soloist and has sung with professional choirs in the Chicago area.
Mrs. O'Riordan is committed to the development of students as musicians and as people, and enjoys the opportunity to celebrate the power of shared musical performance to bring healing, understanding, and joy to all of us. She lives in Naperville with her husband and two children. In her free time, Mrs. O'Riordan enjoys playing ukulele with her two children, reading and watching movies.
Mrs. O’Riordan has served as a Director of Choirs at North High School since 2007. As a National Board Certified Teacher, she has worked with her colleagues to build and refine a program that includes four curricular choirs, four auditioned ensembles, and the All Access Choir, a group where general education and students with special needs work side-by-side. Mrs. O'Riordan teaches Freshman Choir, Concert Choir, Treble Choir, A Cappella Choir, Freshman Ensemble, Concert Singers and All Access Choir. In addition to teaching choral classes, Mrs. O'Riordan instructs two levels of guitar class.
A native of Naperville, Mrs. O'Riordan ventured off to NY to pursue higher education. She earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance with an Arts Leadership Certificate from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Mrs. O'Riordan continued on at Eastman to earn a Master of Music Degree in Music Education (Choral/Vocal Emphasis). She is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and the Illinois Music Education Association, where she has served as a District 1 Choral Representative. In addition to her teaching, she has worked as a soloist and has sung with professional choirs in the Chicago area.
Mrs. O'Riordan is committed to the development of students as musicians and as people, and enjoys the opportunity to celebrate the power of shared musical performance to bring healing, understanding, and joy to all of us. She lives in Naperville with her husband and two children. In her free time, Mrs. O'Riordan enjoys playing ukulele with her two children, reading and watching movies.
Frank Piekarz
Dr. Piekarz is a proud alumnus of Downers Grove South High School who returned to District 99 as a faculty member in 1996. Within the Fine Arts Department, he serves as a Director of Choirs (co-teaching the Concert Choir & A Cappella Choir with Mrs. O'Riordan, as well as directing both the Treble Ensemble & Chamber Choir), and he also teaches the AP Music Theory course. Additionally at DGN, he works within the Career & Technical Education (CTE) department, where he has served as the coordinator of the Introduction to Teaching program for over ten years.
Dr. Piekarz earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education (Vocal/Choral Emphasis) from the University of Illinois in 1994, and went on to receive a Master of Music Degree (Music Education Emphasis) from Northern Illinois University in 1999. He has a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum Leadership from Northern Illinois University, which he earned in 2006. He continues a strong professional relationship with NIU, where he has taught both undergraduate & graduate level classes in music education.
Currently, Dr. Piekarz serves the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) as Chorus President.
Dr. Piekarz and his wife live in Lisle. They have three adult children, and two dogs.
Dr. Piekarz is a proud alumnus of Downers Grove South High School who returned to District 99 as a faculty member in 1996. Within the Fine Arts Department, he serves as a Director of Choirs (co-teaching the Concert Choir & A Cappella Choir with Mrs. O'Riordan, as well as directing both the Treble Ensemble & Chamber Choir), and he also teaches the AP Music Theory course. Additionally at DGN, he works within the Career & Technical Education (CTE) department, where he has served as the coordinator of the Introduction to Teaching program for over ten years.
Dr. Piekarz earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education (Vocal/Choral Emphasis) from the University of Illinois in 1994, and went on to receive a Master of Music Degree (Music Education Emphasis) from Northern Illinois University in 1999. He has a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum Leadership from Northern Illinois University, which he earned in 2006. He continues a strong professional relationship with NIU, where he has taught both undergraduate & graduate level classes in music education.
Currently, Dr. Piekarz serves the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) as Chorus President.
Dr. Piekarz and his wife live in Lisle. They have three adult children, and two dogs.