Rita Gentile M.Ed. ’17, M.M. ’20

Professor Rita Gentile M.Ed. ’17, M.M. ’20 joined the Carthage music faculty in 2022. She currently teaches Applied Voice, Advanced Applied Voice, Vocal Music Methods, Popular Music in America, and Music Education Philosophies and Methods. She also serves as a supervisor for choral student teachers. Prof. Gentile enjoys teaching and performing both classical and contemporary vocal styles. She has appeared as a soloist with the Kenosha Symphony, Fine Arts at First (Messiah), UW-Parkside Noon Concert Series, as well as productions of “My Way” and “Side By Side by Sondheim” at the Racine Theatre Guild.

In addition to solo performance, Prof. Gentile has had the pleasure of performing with choruses all over the country, including in concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 2003, she was the winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) freshman collegiate category. Prof. Gentile has dedicated many years to choral music education. She taught as a choral and performing arts teacher for 14 years in Kenosha Unified, where she regularly trained and mentored choral student teachers. She currently serves as vocal director for various shows at Indian Trail High School. Her middle school choirs have performed at high levels, consistently receiving awards and superior ratings. In 2013, her women’s choir was chosen by blind audition to perform at the state convention, where she was awarded Young Choral Director of the Year by the Wisconsin Choral Director’s Association.

Also an accomplished pianist, Prof. Gentile serves as the music director at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, where she provides music liturgy planning, vocals, organ accompaniment, and directs the adult choir, a position she has enjoyed for over 17 years. She also frequently accompanies for local choirs and festivals. In addition, she owns RG Performing Arts Studio in Kenosha, where she leads a staff of 12 private lesson instructors teaching voice, piano, and dance.

Prof. Gentile holds professional memberships with NATS, PAVA, WCDA, Music Theatre Educator’s Alliance, and NAfME, while also serving as an adjudicator for the Wisconsin School Music Association. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts from Boston University and holds master’s degrees in both education and music theatre vocal pedagogy from Carthage College.

Prof. Gentile is a proud Carthage alumna who, along with her husband, has established the Giada Marie Gentile Memorial Endowed Scholarship for future Carthage vocal arts students. She resides in Kenosha with her husband, Ben, and their three children; Vinny (14), Dominic (12), and Gioia (8).

• Doctor of Musical Arts — Music Education, Boston University (2024)
• Master of Music — Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy, Carthage College (2020)
• Master of Education — Music Education Leadership, Carthage College (2017)
• Bachelor of Arts — Music/Voice, UW-Parkside (2008)
• K-12 Choral and General Music Licensure — State of Wisconsin

• MUS 0250 Private Voice
• MUS 5500 Advanced Applied Music Study
• MUS 4220 Vocal Music Methods
• MUS 2200 Popular Music in America
• MUS 502Y Music Education Philosophies and Methods

• Doctoral Dissertation: “An Exploration of Wisconsin Choral Educator Preparation For Supporting Adolescent Singers”