Michelle Coder

Michelle Coder began teaching in the Sierra College Music Department in 2005 where she currently teaches Voice and Piano classes, as well as Music Appreciation.

She is deeply committed to helping her students build the skills they need to realize their personal and professional goals. Coder also takes an active role in shared governance and
believes in ongoing professional development. She is currently a certified online instructor, a course evaluator with Distance Learning and continues to serve as a member of the Faculty
Professional Development Committee.

Coder holds a BA in Vocal Performance and Music Education from California State University, Chico and a MS in Special Education with additional post graduate courses from the Sacramento State Adult Learning Disabilities Certificate Program.

Coder has performed with numerous regional symphonies and chamber ensembles, was a featured soloist with the Harrington String Quartet, and toured and recorded with L.A. jazz flutist Steve Fowler. She had a 15-year career as a professional concert artist with classical guitarist Jesse Vernier. The Vernier Duo garnered critical acclaim for their performances of Mr. Vernier’s masterful arrangements for classical guitar and voice and they were invited to be featured artists in numerous concert series. A retrospective of their recorded work continues to be actively viewed on YouTube.

Coder maintains a private music studio at Music & More Arts Academy in Auburn where she teaches private voice and piano. Since opening her private studio in 2000, Coder has co-founded and directed the Auburn Light Opera, the Auburn Children’s Chorus, the award winning show choir The Swingin’ Sweethearts, and the Young Singer/Actor program.

A playwright and composer, Coder won the 2004 Sacramento Area Regional Theater Alliance (SARTA) Elly award for best adapted script for her adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess, with additional Karnātaka samgīta music by Ramana Ramayanam. Her musical adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s Thumbelina, written in collaboration with Gerald Rheault, was premiered by the Sacramento Theater Company Young Professionals Conservatory in 2010. Coder was also commissioned to write and produce an original theatrical adaptation of the autobiographical novel Chasing Moonshine by Raymond L.F. Johnson with James Van Eaton. She has produced, directed and designed over 100 adult and children’s productions and has received SARTA Elly nominations for Best Director and Best Set Design.

Coder is a teacher member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).