Rita Gentile

Rita Gentile joined the Carthage music faculty in 2022 where she currently teaches Applied Voice, Advanced Applied Voice, Popular Music in America, and Popular Music Seminar. She 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.

Rita 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 NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) freshman category.

Prof. Gentile has dedicated many years to choral music education. She taught as a choral and performing arts teacher in Kenosha Unified for 14 years, where she regularly trained and mentored choral student teachers. She currently serves as a co-director for the KUSD high school Madrigal Singers. 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.

Prof. Gentile, also an accomplished pianist, 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 16 years. She also frequently accompanies for local choirs and festivals.

In addition, Rita owns RG Performing Arts Studio in Kenosha, where she leads a staff of six private lesson instructors teaching voice, piano, and dance.

Rita holds professional memberships with NATS, PAVA, WCDA, Music Theatre Educator’s Alliance, and NAfME, while also serving as a Level 2 Adjudicator for the Wisconsin School Music Association.

Prof. Gentile, a proud Carthage alumna, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Master of Education in Music Ed Leadership (’17), and Master of Music in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy (’20) from Carthage College. Currently a doctoral candidate, Ms. Gentile is working on her dissertation at Boston University where she will complete her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Education.

She resides in Kenosha with her husband, Ben, and their three children; Vinny (12), Dominic (10), and Gioia (6).

• 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 2200 Popular Music in America
• MUS 502L Popular Music Seminar
• MUS 501D Research Methods in the Arts
• MUS 502Y Music Education Philosophies and Methods