Thursday, August 1, 2019 | Teachers

Bonnie Monk Kraxberger began her career as a student teaching her peers in 2006. From the onset she offered general music education on voice, flute, and piano. She enjoyed volunteering with the Parrish Middle School band and South Salem High School choir, and had the privilege of directing Musick's Empire by Lloyd Pfautsch for the Willamette Chamber Choir under the guidance of Dr. Wallace Long. After graduating with a Bachelor's of Music Degree from Willamette University in 2008, she served the United Methodist Church for two years advocating for social justice and food insecurity in Appalachian Alabama. As part of her personal growth, she brought her musical talents to share with the community and offered private lessons, group singing classes, and weekly elementary music classes.

Bonnie returned to Oregon in 2010 and began teaching in coastal communities, and appearing as a soloist, guest conductor, and accompanist for the United Church of Christ in Lincoln City. In 2012 she chose to devote her days full-time to teaching and moved to the Portland area. Bonnie began offering online lessons, developing an online music university, and teaching group lessons during this time. Through the Piano Santa Foundation she reached out to elementary school students in low-income schools to offer group piano after school classes. In 2014 and 2015 she was privileged to dean Celebrating the Arts middle school music camp at Camp Magruder in Rockaway Beach, OR, including writing the curriculum for Bloom Where You're Planted for the 2015 full-time camp. As a student she attended MADD (Music Art Dance Drama) high school camp and has volunteered and counseled at it in past years. Bonnie performed with the Portland Symphonic Choir and has been an active vocalist with Consonare Chorale under the artistic direction of Georgina Philippson since 2013. She is a past president of the Phi Lambda chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon and the Portland Alumni Chapter and currently serves the Alumni chapter as secretary. She and her husband Bear have two young boys who make occasional appearances at work with her.