All-State Audition Tips for Success

Preparing students for All-State auditions can seem like a daunting task! Join us as we explore and share tips to success for preparing students for All-State Elementary Chorus and Orff Ensemble auditions. Presenters will include our two FEMEA All-State Coordinators, Robert Todd and Holly Mullenix, and other elementary music educators sharing audition success stories.

Marie U. Radloff 

Andover Elementary
Music educator

Marie Radloff currently serves as the Immediate Past-President of FEMEA. She started her teaching career in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and has worked as an elementary music specialist in Orange County for the past 30 years, teaching at Andover Elementary School since 2005. Marie is a native Floridian and an alumnus of Florida State University (BME) and the University of Central Florida (MEd.). She performs regularly as a church musician at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando as an oboist and as a member of the Wesley Ringers handbell choir.

Holly Mullenix 

Curlew Creek Elementary School
Music Teacher

Holly Mullenix discovered a passion for education in the music classroom over 25 years ago. She earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Music Education, Ball State University; Master of Science in Music Technology, Indiana University; and Certification in Orff-Schulwerk, Anderson University. Holly’s numerous achievements include: Teacher of the Year, Hamilton Southeastern School District; Teacher of the Year, Curlew Creek Elementary; and the Teaching Excellence Award, Indiana School of Music at Indianapolis. In 2009, Ms. Mullenix was bestowed the honorable Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation National Award at Carnegie Hall. She currently teaches in Pinellas County Schools, is the FMEA All-State Orff Ensemble Coordinator, teaches recorder classes through AOSA for certification of Orff Levels and is the Past-President of the Greater Tampa Bay Area Orff Chapter. Holly Mullenix has dedicated her life to inspiring our youth to be their best creative, authentic, unique selves.

Rob White-Davis 

Gulf Stream School
Director of Music

Robert Arthur White-Davis is the Director of Music at Gulf Stream School. He grew up in Apopka, Florida and graduated from Lake Brantley High School. He has earned a bachelor of music degree with honors from the University of Michigan and a master of music degree with honors from Northwestern University. White-Davis has taught at Gulf Stream School since September of 2008. He oversees all music productions at the school, teaches music classes to students in pre-kindergarten through grade 8, and maintains a private vocal and piano studio on the side. During the 2012-2013 school year, he was awarded teacher of the year. Head of School, Joe Zaluski stated that White-Davis has “revitalized the music program at Gulf Stream School.” White-Davis’ enthusiasm, patience, passion for music, and eagerness to make a positive impact in students’ lives, is what makes him a wonderful teacher. In the past 10 years, White-Davis has had 58 students accepted to participate in the FEMEA All-State.

Carrie Olson 

Kimball Wiles Elementary School
Music Educator & Director of Ensembles

Carrie Olson is from St. Augustine, FL, and currently teaches Music at Kimball Wiles Elementary School in Gainesville (where she has taught since 2011). Mrs. Olson is the Director of the Kimball Wiles Wildcats Chorus (a non-auditioned chorus with 85 4th & 5th grade students), and two after-school Orff ensembles. The Wildcats Chorus performed in the 2017 National Children’s Festival Chorus at Carnegie Hall, received Straight Superior ratings for the last three years at Music USA Festivals at Universal Studios, participated in First Coast Honor Choir Festivals in Mandarin, performed the National Anthem at several UF Gator Sporting Events, and performed concerts around Gainesville. Mrs. Olson has volunteered as a Children’s Choir director at her church in Gainesville for the last 14 years, and as a vocal and choreography coach with the Gainesville Youth Chorus. In the last seven years Mrs. Olson has had 49 students accepted as Florida All-State Musicians (Chorus & Orff).

Robert Todd 

Bayview Elementary School
Music Teacher

In his 31st year of teaching, Robert Todd teaches music at Bayview Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale. Mr. Todd is immediate past director of the Repertory Choir with the Girl Choir of South Florida. He was the 2015 Florida Music Educator of the Year. He has served as clinician for elementary choral workshops and conducts numerous honor choirs. Mr. Todd holds National Board Certification in Early and Middle Childhood Music. Since 2010, he has served on the Florida Elementary Music Educators Association Executive Board as the All State Elementary Chorus Coordinator. Todd works with the Broward Music Educators Association as Treasurer, and is co-coordinator for the Broward County Elementary Music Performance Assessments held annually. Mr. Todd is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, the Florida Elementary Music Educators Association, the American Orff Schulwerk Association, the American Choral Directors Association, and the Broward County MEA .

The FMEA Professional Development Conference and All-State Ensembles receive support in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.