Crystal Villanova
Meet our Ensemble Director
“To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable”
- Ludwig van Beethoven
My Story
Bio
Crystal Villanova has led the Virginia Beach Chorale’s Ensemble since 2022. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree, specializing in piano and choral music, from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where she also pursued studies in voice, piano pedagogy, and opera performance. While at Winthrop, she performed a leading role in the university’s opera production of The Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan.
She is currently the general music specialist at Seatack Elementary School in Virginia Beach, Her teaching career includes directing choirs at Chester High School in South Carolina and Norfolk Academy in Virginia. An award-winning pianist, Crystal has taught piano to students of all ages for more than 20 years. Since 2019, she has been on faculty with the Academy of Music in Norfolk, an organization dedicated to making music education accessible to all residents of Hampton Roads. She is committed to ongoing professional development, regularly participating in workshops and seminars to further her growth as a musician, educator, and conductor.
In addition to her work with the Virginia Beach Chorale, she serves as pianist for Heritage United Methodist Church, sings with the Symphonicity Chorus, and has been featured as a soloist in numerous performances throughout the Hampton Roads area. She also works as a substitute teacher for Virginia Beach Public Schools and Norfolk Collegiate, remaining actively engaged in both the music and education communities.