Marquis Who's Who Millennium Magazine

79 A Marquis Who's Who Magazine A t the beginning of her career, Jeanette Knapp Chase seemed destined to follow one path as a health care worker, having earned a diploma from the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing and become a registered nurse in Texas in 1958. She worked as an office nurse, staff nurse, and recovery room nurse in Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston until her retirement in 1969 to gain the music education she always wanted. She kept her registered nurse qualifications current until 2010 in case she decided to return to nursing. As it turned out, however, Mrs. Chase found her true calling as a music educator. With 25 years of singing in high school and church choirs, and leading a student nurse choir, she quit nursing and began her music education in 1969 at San Jacinto Junior College in Pasadena, Texas. After obtaining an associate degree in 1972, she maintained a career as a private voice teacher and church choral director at Webster Presbyterian Church from 1973 to 2002. While serving Webster, she earned a Bachelor of Music and began teaching at San Jacinto College. After completing a MA in fine arts education, she became a full-time faculty member at San Jacinto and then completed 30 hours of postgraduate studies in choral conducting and vocal pedagogy. She served also as a voice teacher in Lee College (Baytown) from 1992 to 2005, utilizing techniques developed from nursing and coaching combined with postgraduate pedagogy studies. Mrs. Chase continues as WPC Director of Music Emerita 2002 and maintains her private voice studio. Mrs. Chase, married 60 years with two children and five grandchildren, is now retired from medical and music education careers but remains active in private voice instruction, choral singing, and synchronized swimming in many capacities. She has served as a national competitive swimmer, coach, judge, official and member of the board of directors for U.S. Synchronized Swimming for 60 plus years. Recently she was named the 2016 USSS South Zone Contributor of the Year and was presented with the 2017 coveted Lillian MacKellar Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her selfless service to synchro athletes. Jeanette Knapp Chase Registered Nurse (Retired), Music Educator (Retired) Synchronized Swimming Competitor, Coach and Judge El Lago, TX