Venita MacGorman has been active in the church music and music education communities for over forty years. She holds the degrees of Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University and Master of Music Education from the University of Oklahoma. She has taught music at every age level from Pre-K through University but she shamelessly admits that youth choirs are her favorites! (She has been known to admit to a fear of adults.) Her most recent positions were as Director of Music Ministries at St Stephen’s UMC in Norman, Oklahoma, as Adjunct Instructor of Music Theory and Education at Mid America Christian University and as Musical Director of the Oklahoma City Handbell Ensemble.
Venita served in a variety of capacities on the Boards of Directors for the Central Oklahoma Chapter of Choristers Guild and of Area 9 of Handbell Musicians of America. She has led workshops at the local, state, area and national levels for HMA and Choristers Guild and has led music at a number of denominational and interfaith camps. With her daughters Erin and Kristen she authored “Basic Training for Bells” and “Basic Training 2: Rhythm Training for Ringers.”
After retiring from full time work, Venita has become active in the local Native American flute circle and plays pennywhistle in Celtic groups. She is always on the “lookout” for new means of musical expression!