RUESINK, LINDA (b. 1964)

Linda Ruesink (born Hallisch) was moved by music at an early age. Her mother's bedtime songs, records, church music, elementary music experiences, and piano lessons were the first powerful influences on her musical development. Throughout her school years, her role models were teachers. By the end of her freshman year in high school, she was determined to become a teacher of her favorite subject, —music.

 

While working to develop her vocal, piano, and baritone skills, Linda also began composing at age 16, under the guidance of Nicolas Contorno. She later became a music major (1982) at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. While there, she studied voice with Joyce Ryan, piano with Dr. Jerry Bramblett, and composition with Drs. Karen Boubel and Joseph Koykkar.

 

After receiving a BM degree in May 1987, with certification to teach K-12 general and vocal music, Linda set out to find a teaching job. Besides finding her first teaching job that summer, she also met Mitch Ruesink, who became her husband on July 9, 1988 and a balancing influence on her life.

 

Linda Ruesink is presently living and working in Watertown, Wisconsin, where she is an elementary music specialist for the Watertown public schools. She enjoys teaching and often spends time creating learning materials for her students. Linda is also certified to teach adaptive music as a result of her MEPD coursework at UW-Whitewater.

 

She is the author of the I Can Read Music series of workbooks for elementary students and composer of solo vocal and instrumental works published by Alliance Publications, Inc.