Music

Raelene A. Best

Mrs. Best teaches piano and guitar methods, is an accompanist for student lessons andRaelene Best recitals and coordinates recruiting efforts for prospective music students at Simpson College. She is also the editor of the Simpson College music department web pages. Mrs. Best has frequently taught music theory, piano and served as an accompanist at the Orpheus Summer Music Camp.

With Theatre Simpson, Mrs. Best has been the music director for several Theatre Simpson musicals including Quilters, Godspell, A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, and Into the Woods. She was awarded a Certificate of Merit for Musical Direction by the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for  the 2008 production of A Year With Frog and Toad. As accompanist and music coach, she has worked on Theatre Simpson productions of Landscape of the Body, To Fool the Eye, and Trojan Women. She was also music director and coach of the Music Theatre Workshops.  Mrs. Best has attended several Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festivals where she has been the accompanist for summer stock theatre auditions and music theatre workshops.

Mrs. Best maintains a private studio in Indianola for piano students and is an active church musician at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Indianola, where she plays piano for weekly Saturday evening services. Her past teaching experience includes elementary through high school vocal music and seventh through ninth grade vocal music. Mrs. Best recently accompanied You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown for Indianola's community theatre, Carousel Theatre.

Professional affiliations include Iowa Composers Forum, National Federation of Music Clubs, Iowa Federation of Music Clubs (past State Vice President, Student Division; past Executive Board), Indianola Federated Music Club (past President), Indianola Music Teachers (Festival Chairman) and the National Education Association (lifetime member). She is also a member of Mu Phi Epsilon and serves as the faculty advisor for the Simpson College chapter.

Last Updated: 5/14/09