Dr. Van Houten is an accomplished music educator, private voice and piano instructor, church musician, theatre performer and vocal/musical director. She received a Masters in Music (Voice Performance) from Peabody Conservatory (Johns Hopkins University) and Ph.D. in Vocal Performance from NYU. She has trained young performers for professional work on Broadway and National Tours as well as regional, school and community productions. For over 15 years, her children’s performing arts company – Simple Gifts Productions – has presented shows and cabarets with kids/teens in grades K-12. She has spent over 30 years serving in various churches as organist, pianist, cantor, choir director and choir chimes director. For the past 3 years, she has served as SBCC’s Youth Director. Open to kids in grades 4-12, MYF projects have included youth worship services, bake sales and food/clothing drives for groups in need, service projects, game nights, mystery trips and joint meetings with youth from the area’s cooperative parish.