Rylee
Spencer
Hello, my name is
About Me.
I am a graduate student at the University of Central Missouri, pursuing a Master of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Choral Conducting and an Educational Specialist degree in Career & Technical and Higher Education. I also serve as the Graduate Assistant for the Choral Department.
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In addition to my academic work, I apply my experience with Adobe Creative Suite as a part-time digital content creator and social media manager for Firehouse Design. My work includes video editing, campaign development, and producing cohesive visual content aligned with brand standards. View my digital media portfolio here.
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I am also the designer behind Chordial Creations, a project dedicated to creating music classroom décor that fosters joyful, engaging, and organized rehearsal spaces.​
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In the future, I hope to work in secondary and postsecondary vocal music education. I plan to pursue a doctoral degree in music to continue my scholarship and further develop my expertise. Ultimately, I aspire to work at the collegiate level, preparing future music educators and musicians for fulfilling careers while inspiring all students to become lifelong musicians.
Education
2025 - Current
University of Central Missouri
Pursuing an Educational Specialist Degree in Adult, Career, and Technical Education: Emphasis in Higher Education
Graduate Certificate in College Teaching
Graduate Certificate in Academic Advising in Higher Education
Kodaly Certification - Level One
2025 - Current
University of Central Missouri
Pursuing a Master of Arts in Music, Emphasis in Choral Conducting
Graduate Certificate in Research
Conducting: Dr. Jackson Thomas
2022 - 2025
University of Central Missouri
Bachelor of Music Education in Vocal Music
Summa Cum Laude
Honors College Distinction
Voice: Dr. Stella Roden
Scholarship
Music of the Neighborhood: Exploring the Music of Fred Rogers through Social-Emotional Songwriting
In this lecture-recital, I explore the music of Fred Rogers and its lasting impact on children’s music, emotional development, and musical expression. Through performance and analysis, I examine Rogers’ use of jazz harmony, conversational lyric writing, and emotionally meaningful musical choices to communicate complex ideas with warmth and sincerity. This project introduces my Social-Emotional Learning Songwriting Framework, inspired by Rogers’ approach to addressing universal emotional experiences through music. My research celebrates Rogers’ musical legacy and advocates for recognizing children as sophisticated listeners deserving of thoughtful, artistically rich music.
Join us at UCM's Hart Recital Hall on January 21, 2027!
Bluegrass Music in the Choral Ensemble: Performance Practice and Pedagogical Resources for Choral Music Educators.
In this research project and lecture-recital, I explore the historical roots and traditional performance practices of bluegrass music and their application to choral music education. Through historical research, musical analysis, and live performance, I examine stylistic elements such as vocal timbre, ornamentation, and ensemble interaction. My goal is to develop practical resources that help choral educators select appropriate repertoire and teach bluegrass with greater stylistic authenticity and cultural awareness. This project seeks to strengthen the representation of bluegrass in choral music and encourage meaningful engagement with this musical tradition.
Join us at UCM's Hart Recital Hall in the spring of 2027!
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