Joy Fiala
Mrs. Fiala received her B.S. Degree in Music Education from Dominican University with a double major in piano and oboe. As an oboe major at Dominican she studied with Robert Mayer of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She earned a Master of Music Degree (conferred with distinction) from DePaul University. Mrs. Fiala has twenty years of elementary and secondary public school teaching experience in both choral and general music. As a university educator she has taught at Ball State University, Parkland College, Dickinson State University, American Conservatory of Music, DePaul University, and Rosary College. While teaching at Rosary College and Dickinson State University she also supervised teacher interns.
Mrs. Fiala has presented music education workshops in Illinois, North Dakota, and Arkansas. While teaching on the secondary level she developed a high school class piano curriculum which was spotlighted at an Illinois Music Educators State Conference. In addition, she has adjudicated numerous state music contests and festivals in Illinois, Indiana, and North Dakota. During summer 2002, Mrs. Fiala participated in a Suzuki Piano Workshop with Dr. Kataoka of the Masumoto Suzuki Piano Institute, Matsumoto, Japan. She is currently working toward incorporating Suzuki philosophy and piano practices within the music education curriculum she teaches at Arkansas State University. Mrs. Fiala has acted as a faculty piano accompanist at universities in Illinois, Indiana, and Arkansas. In that capacity she has presented numerous performances throughout those states. She also acted as piano accompanist and music director for Barnes and Caruthers Theatrical Associates Summer Theatre, Chicago, Illinois.
Memberships in professional organizations include the Music Educators National Conference, Arkansas Music Educators Association, Music Teachers National Association, Delta Music Teachers Association, the Suzuki Association of America, Suzuki Piano Basics Organization, Delta Kappa Gamma, and Mu Phi Epsilon. In June 2004 she was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Music Educators Association where she serves as Membership Chairperson.
