This year, the music department is starting a fresh chapter with the arrival of its new teacher, Ms. Dunleavy. With a warm personality and a passion for helping students grow, Ms. Dunleavy has already begun to make a strong impact on the program.
A little background on Ms. Dunleavy is that she was born in China, grew up in River Edge, and graduated from our very own high school. She grew up around music because of her mom and knew she wanted to teach because of her.
Dunleavy started playing piano when she was three and a half and has played it ever since. She says, “[I] just did everything musical I could…I did all the ensembles [at River Dell] and did pit orchestra. And it was just always what stuck with me the most.”
After graduating from River Dell, she went on to pursue her music education career by attending Westminster Choir College. She was a double major in music education and piano.
Ms. Dunleavy was inspired to teach music because of her biggest role model in her life: her mom. “She always supported me and came to all my events and performances…her work ethic is always something that inspired me to be a little more.”
Ms. Dunleavy is excited to make major changes to the music program at this school, and she wants to add more music-centered classes for people who don’t really sing or aren’t interested in band. Some classes she wants to add are, as she states, “AP Music Theory, songwriting class, musical theatre workshop…and other musical opportunities for students who don’t necessarily play band instruments [like guitar].”
River Dell experienced Ms. Dunleavy’s first winter concert last night and were astounded by the students’ and her amazing achievement.
“She connects with students knowing what Gen Zs are like, which is kind of funny…she is really passionate about music and shares her passion with us,” says David Kuchar, a sophomore taking Ms. Dunleavy’s chorus class.
