A vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Carole J. Seitz became involved in her profession because her mother was a pianist. She and her sister took piano lessons beginning at four years old through the wonderful string program where she grew up in Wichita, Kansas. She started violin in the fourth grade, taking free lessons that were given by the public schools. Ms. Seitz still plays the piano every day and substitutes for the organist at her church when needed.
Retiring in 2015, Ms. Seitz is a professor emerita of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, previously joining the school in 1962 as an associate professor of music. Serving in this role for one year, she chaired the Music and Fine Arts Department at Iowa Community College from 1973 to 1976 before returning to Creighton. Ms. Seitz rejoined the school in 1976 as the associate chair of performing arts, serving in this role for three years, and moved up the ranks to the roles of assistant professor and associate professor between 1979 and 2015.
In addition to this tenure, Ms. Seitz directed the Canterbury Choir of St. Augustine Episcopal Church in Elkhorn, Nebraska, and was the northeast junior choir director and a soprano soloist with St. Andrews Episcopalian Church in Omaha from 1980 to 1989. She also served as music director of St. John’s Lutheran Church, the Chanticleer Theatre and the Council Bluffs Community Chorus in Council Bluffs, Iowa, from 1969 to 1973. As a violinist, Ms. Seitz has played with the Wichita Symphony from 1958 to 1960, the Omaha Symphony from 1961 to 1975, and the Des Moines Symphony and Lincoln Symphony from 1972 to 1979. Furthermore, she was the assistant conductor and chorus master of Opera Omaha from 1978 to 1989.
The highlight of Ms. Seitz’s career was conducting a requiem mass with her college choir and members of the Omaha Symphony. The requiem mass was by John Rudder, who was an English composer she had met before. He did a special piece for Prince William and Princess Kate’s wedding. Before pursuing a professional career, Ms. Seitz matriculated at Wichita State University, earning a Bachelor of Music in 1960 and a Master of Music in 1961, both in music education.
Outside of her primary trade, Ms. Seitz founded and was the president of the Council Bluffs Art Council from 1970 to 1973 and served on the board of governors of the Omaha Symphony. Additionally, she has composed numerous plays, choral and dance compositions, and pieces for string orchestras and quartets throughout her career. Active with the Mortar Board and Mu Phi Epsilon, Ms. Seitz served as an Iowa board member of the American Choral Directors Association from 1968 to 1969 and is now a life member.
In recognition of her efforts, Ms. Seitz was given the Citizenship Award by the American Association of University Women, and was listed the 24th edition of Who’s Who in the World and four editions of Who’s Who in America. Now in retirement, she resides in Nebraska with her loving husband of 27 years, Richard John Seitz, MD, FACP, with whom she has raised two wonderful children, Kimberly Ann Santora and Jeffrey Ward Bean. Her daughter attained a degree in arts history and studied art for a year at Columbia University, as well as completed coursework in Paris. She works for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Her son is a professional actor. Likewise, Ms. Seitz is a doting grandmother of four beloved grandchildren, Joseph, Emma, Joshua and Jacob. She has been known to enjoy horseback riding, traveling, reading and knitting in her spare time.
