Molly McCorkle Rule directs the Pinta choir of Columbus Children’s Choir and teaches at The Ohio State University School of Music and preschool music classes at the Hilltop Lutheran Church. She received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education and Master of Music in Music Education with Kodály emphasis from Capital University. She completed a portion of her master’s degree at The Kodály Institute in Hungary.
Growing up in central Ohio, Molly was part of all-state choirs, bands, and was a trombonist with the Columbus Youth Symphony. She taught music for several years at Fairfield Elementary School in Pickerington, where she was chosen as Teacher of the Year for the 04-05 school year. She has also taught early childhood music classes for WeJoySing.
In 2013, Molly was selected to sing as a soprano under the direction of John Rutter for the Music In Worship Festival Chorus at the American Choral Directors’ Association National Conference. She hosts the Columbus Symphony’s Link Up concerts each spring and has also hosted a Young People’s Concert with the symphony. She is a member of the Organization of American Kodály Educators and the American Choral Directors’ Association, where she served on the Children’s Honor Choir team for several years.
Whew! Let’s get to know Molly a little better.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Butterfinger blizzards from Dairy Queen!
Q: Favorite color?
A: Orange
Q: What is your favorite holiday and why?
A: Honestly, I love any chance to celebrate. My five-year-old has created a holiday called Snoopy Gold Day. It’s a good one. I also love Easter. After long Ohio winters, I appreciate the hope and new life it represents. My husband proposed on Easter, too.
Q: Do you have a favorite choir/music related memory?
A: I have so many it is difficult to choose–music is powerful! In general, when I am singing with others or conducting, I love the connection I feel to the music itself and to the other performers. It is being part of something much greater and more beautiful than I could accomplish alone because every voice brings it’s unique story, it’s color, and it’s skill.
Q: Is there any little known fact about you that you’d like to share?
A: I taught high school English in Slovakia, in Eastern Europe, for a little over a year. My first name, Molly, sounds just like the Slovak word, maly, which means “small.” Every time I would introduce myself, people would giggle.
Do you or your singer have a special memory of working with Mrs. Rule you would like to share? Simply send why you love working with Mrs. Rule to kerry@columbuschildrenschoir.org and we will print out your message and share it on the bulletin board along with other warm words.
By Carmen Greiner