About Miriam
Professional Bio | Resume | Personal Bio | Contact Information
Professional Bio
Pianist MIRIAM ELEY is Master Faculty member of the
piano department at Westminster Conservatory of Music in Princeton, NJ. She has served on the
Westminster faculty for over 20 years. Prior to 2005, Ms. Eley
divided her time between teaching and administrative work at the
Conservatory - most recently serving as Extension Manager at the Ocean
Grove (NJ) Extension of Westminster Conservatory. Previously, in
addition to teaching, she served as Coordinator of Special Projects for
eleven years and Group Piano Coordinator for five years. In addition,
she currently teaches composition and piano pedagogy in the
Professional Development Certificate Program of Westminster's
Continuing Education department. As a result of teaching within this
program for many years, Ms. Eley has written a student/teacher
workbook, Sketches and Imagery at the Piano – an approach to composing
through improvisation, which can be creatively incorporated into the
curriculum of private or group piano lessons. Since 2000, she has
served on the piano faculty of the Middle School Piano Camp at
Westminster Choir College, in addition to teaching composition classes
for the Piano Camp.
Miriam Eley
and Esma Pasic-Filipovic
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Her
article published in Keyboard Companion (Winter 2001) discusses the
importance of "How and When to Teach Phrasing," focusing on the need for
students to sing and listen to the shape of a phrase as they first
learn to play the piano. In 1995, Miriam Eley was appointed to the
piano faculty of Westminster Choir College of Rider University as
Adjunct Assistant Professor and teaches in the secondary piano program
there. Her formal training includes work at Indiana University, where
she earned the degree Master of Music in piano performance with
distinction; Baylor University (B. M. in piano performance); Peabody
Conservatory of Music; and Interlochen Arts Academy, where she earned
the high school diploma. She received additional training (1987-89) in
piano pedagogy with Frances Clark and Louise Goss at The New School for
Music Study in Kingston, New Jersey. She later taught and served as
Coordinator of the Preparatory Division there for an additional two
years.
Ms. Eley maintains a private piano studio and has
developed a multi-media/music center in her home. Her devotion to
showing students the art of composing through improvisation has
broadened her approach in teaching. Ms. Eley's ideas encourage students
to think creatively by following a methodical, imaginative process
which is guided to become a shared learning experience by both the
teacher and students. |
Ms. Eley began composing and studying piano at age
three. Her teachers include James Tocco, Roger Keyes, Jo Boatwright,
Fernando Laires, Drusilla Huffmaster and her mother, Anita Hopson
Henderson. Her teaching experience includes faculty positions at
Brewton-Parker College, Southwestern Baptist Seminary School of Church
Music and as Associate Instructor at Indiana University.
Miriam Eley maintains active membership in New Jersey
Music Teachers Association, American College of Musicians and The
Steinway Society and is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda. She has
adjudicated numerous local, state and regional piano festivals,
auditions and competitions in California, Georgia, Texas, New Jersey,
Delaware and Pennsylvania. Miriam Eley is a published composer and has
performed throughout the United States as piano soloist, chamber music
collaborator and accompanist to her husband, baritone Elem Eley.
Resume
Click here to download Ms. Eley's resume in PDF format.
Personal Bio
When teaching schedules and other professional obligations lighten
in the summer months, Miriam enjoys more time to practice, travel,
garden and dive into home decorating projects. Most of all, summer
offers her time for reflection at the Jersey Shore and being with her
family and friends from all around the country. It is a time for
re-charging her batteries, composing and also creating new composition
projects for her students. A limited but invigorating summer teaching
schedule includes her work at the Middle School Piano Camp at WCC and
within her private studio and at Westminster Conservatory. Take a look
at the Rider University website, Westminster Choir College Continuing
Education Summer Programs. Check out www.rider.edu/westminster for more information about MSPC and other programs for middle school and high school age students.
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As a native Texan, adjustment to living in the Northeast for more than
20 years now has proven to be a deeply enriching and rewarding
experience for both Miriam and her husband, Elem Eley.
The first 12 years of married life were spent developing their talents
in Texas, California, Georgia, and Indiana as students and professional
teachers/performers. Her husband's dual career as professional singer
(baritone) and Professor of Voice at Westminster Choir College has been
as active and full as possible, given his position at the College and
the additional responsibilities his position holds. Elem has built a
singing career with regional, national and international engagements
that continue to develop as time goes on. You are welcome to view his
upcoming calendar of performances and other engagements on his website,
www.ElemEley.com. |
Miriam, Elem, Ben and Susan
Benjamin, their son, had very early and impressionable musical
experiences at the American Boychoir School in Princeton which far
surpassed their expectations for his education and musical training.
Benjamin's national and international travels, performing opportunities
and interaction with varied cultures of the world were truly “once in a
lifetime” experiences that helped to shape his values, character and
outlook on life. Miriam and Elem are so grateful that, several years ago,
Ben's journey placed him right in the path of his soul mate and their
daughter-in-law, Susan Landis Eley. They were married in November 2002;
after graduating with Masters degrees from Indiana University,
they have relocated back to central New Jersey. Both are
extraordinarily gifted singers and young professionals.Both Ben and Susan “freelance” with New Jersey summer opera programs or
do church solo work as time allows. In addition to his work as Associate Director of Financial Aid at
Princeton University, Ben enjoys a flourishing second career as photographer. Take a look at this website: http://www.BenjaminEley.com. Susan is media specialist/librarian at Hillside
Elementary School in Mt. Laurel, NJ.
The newest member of the Eley family, Grandson Number Two, arrived October 12, 2012--joining Grandson Number One as the youngest students on Miriam’s waiting list—top priority!
Over the years, cats have played a big role in the Eley household.
Their 19-year-old, dearly-departed “Mimi” saw them through many changes
and challenges over the years. For another 19 years, it took two
cats—Carmen and Gretel—to replace the title of prima cat which Mimi held for those many years. Carmen and Gretel, devoted pets and good companions, have been replaced by their cousins, Pamina and Sprinkles.
Contact Information
Miriam Henderson Eley
Pianist, Composer, Teacher
Westminster Choir College of Rider University
Westminster Conservatory of Music
101 Walnut Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540
Ph. 609-921-7100, ext. 8988, mailbox 88607#
E-mail:
mireley1@gmail.com
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