There was a time when a Walker family gathering would not be complete without a special presentation written, choreographed and performed by Domonique Walker \u201909 and her siblings. \u201cAs long as I can remember I enjoyed everything about entertainment \u2013 singing, dancing, acting, musical theater \u2013 anything to do with the performing arts,\u201d Walker tells us. \u201cI performed in school talent and variety shows too, and even had a solo part in one of the holiday shows. When I wasn\u2019t involved in a school performance or putting on a show for family and friends, I was singing to myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even though Walker continued to participate in choral programs in high school, the idea of a career in the arts didn\u2019t occur to her until the 11th grade, when she had to decide her future plans post high school. After watching her favorite film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, featuring singer-songwriter, actress and producer Lauryn Hill, it was then she reached her epiphany. \u201cUntil then I had been very involved in sports,\u201d she says. \u201cI played soccer, basketball and softball. I saw Sister Act 2. After the movie, Lauryn Hill released an album a few years later, and I was inspired to become a vocalist.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walker auditioned for a spot at a local vocal studio. \u201cVocal teachers are selective in accepting students,\u201d she explains. \u201cAnd I would need professional training to prepare for a college-level audition.\u201d<\/p>\n
The vocal teacher saw Walker\u2019s potential for classical training in opera and took her on as a student. Walker\u2019s path to a college-level voice audition would present extra challenges, however, as most vocalists begin lessons at a much earlier age. \u201cI was late to the game,\u201d she says. \u201cI would have to find a college that would accept me with relatively little training.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walker\u2019s talent and drive earned her seats in multiple performing arts programs, but she chose Montclair. \u201cI fell in love with the campus, and with the program,\u201d she says. \u201cMy dream at this point was to perform, and to open my own music school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walker excelled in her vocal training \u2013 she was selected to open a spring studio showcase with \u201cSummertime\u201d from Porgy and Bess \u2013 and brought her high energy to the Montclair University Singers. In addition to roles as a resident assistant and desk assistant, she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Organization of Students for African Unity (OSAU), serving as cultural affairs event coordinator and later as president. She even assisted in starting a successful dance troupe on campus.<\/p>\n
When Walker began the education portion of her degree, she realized her true calling. \u201cI love children, and I love educating people,\u201d she says. \u201cI went into the program thinking I was preparing to open my own school, and then I did my practicum in the Newark Public School system. That\u2019s when I knew where I was headed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor my first professional role I joined Robert Treat Academy Charter School in Newark,\u201d Walker continues, \u201cbecause they gave me an opportunity to build a music program from the ground up. My students won several competitions, performed for many dignitaries, appeared on local television as well as on stage at the prestigious Radio City Music Hall in NYC. Twelve years later I moved to the Newark Public School System and now I am working at American History High School for the same reason \u2013 the opportunity to launch a start-up choral program.\u201d<\/p>\n
At Montclair, Walker is helping to build the Black Alumni Advisory Council. \u201cThe group is focused on mentoring students and building school pride,\u201d she says, adding that she is co-chair of the Council\u2019s engagement committee. \u201cIt means a lot to students to see alumni come back to campus, and to know that we support them and the University.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walker is particularly proud of Montclair\u2019s outreach programs and efforts to partner with schools in Newark and Paterson. \u201cDr. Heather Buchanan, the University\u2019s director of Choral Activities, has a youth program for vocalists,\u201d she points out. \u201cWhat a great way to encourage young artists, and to help them transition to college.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recently, Walker came across notes from one of her Montclair classes. \u201cThe professor encouraged us to articulate a philosophy as an educator,\u201d she says. \u201cMine revolved around creating a safe and fun environment where children will feel confident to find the talent within.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now nearly 15 years into her career, Walker remains committed to this philosophy. \u201cI don\u2019t always know what will reach students,\u201d she says. \u201cI have to be creative.\u201d<\/p>\n
And she has been teaching long enough to hear from former students. \u201cI get such nice notes from them,\u201d she says. \u201cThey reignite the flame.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After finding her voice in the 11th grade, Newark Public Schools Choir Director Domonique Walker \u201909 had to catch up with peers whose vocal training began in childhood. But when she discovered her love for education, she knew she was in the right place at exactly the right time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":326,"featured_media":213557,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-213556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-76_alumni-news-and-events","category-77_alumni-spotlight"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/326"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213556"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":213558,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213556\/revisions\/213558"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/213557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=213556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=213556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}