Mrs. Eikner's Bio
Mrs. Eikner grew up in Lancaster, PA where she found her love for music at the young age of 5, singing in the church cherub choir and studying violin and organ. Throughout her childhood and teen years, her passion for music grew to include a full schedule of music classes, choirs, orchestras, and musical theater at church, school and the Lancaster Conservatory of Music where she had the opportunity to study with many well-known teachers, directors, and conductors. Her senior year in high school, she earned a chair in the All-State Choir of Pennsylvania. From that honor, she was selected to spend three weeks touring and performing in Europe as the first soprano soloist with American Musicians Abroad.
Moving to Tyler at the young age of 19 to attend Tyler Junior College on a music scholarship was a pivotal decision for Mrs. Eikner as it meant moving miles away from home. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Music Education from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1981. Shortly after receiving her degree, Mrs. Eikner opened a music studio in Tyler. During the 15 years of the studio’s existence, she gained valuable experience teaching violin and voice to children and young people through the mastery of the Suzuki method. She founded and directed both the Celebration Co., a community choir for children and youth, and Suzuki Strings of East Texas during her years as the owner of her music studio, East Texas Studio of Performing Arts.
In 1997, Mrs. Eikner was hired and commissioned by a local private school to start an orchestra program in their middle school and high school. During the 13 years she was employed there, the orchestra program grew from its 12 original students to 115 students including four award-winning orchestras and numerous award-winning string ensembles. With the honor of winning five instrumental state championships, Mrs. Eikner was chosen as TAPPS Fine Arts Teacher of the Year in 2008 and 2010.
Having a desire to further her career path in a public school setting, Mrs. Eikner was hired by Cumberland Academy in 2010 to launch the violin program at Cumberland Academy Elementary School. In 2014, she moved to the middle school campus to initiate both the choir and orchestra programs. Under her direction, the middle school choirs have received Division I's at UIL Competitions every year they have competed and they have numerous Sweepstakes Awards in the trophy case. Having also been the director of orchestras for the middle school for five and a half years, in 2018 the Virtuoso Orchestra, under Mrs. Eikner's direction, was the first Cumberland Academy performing arts ensemble to bring home the coveted UIL Sweepstakes Award.
In addition, Mrs. Eikner founded and served as the executive and artistic director for Voices of Faith, an 80-voice community youth choir for 12 years. She also served as the Director of Music for Fifth Street Presbyterian Church for 18 years.
Throughout Mrs. Eikner's music education career, she served on the Tyler Youth Orchestra Board of Directors a total of five years, two of which she served as President. It was during those years of serving on the board that she gained valuable knowledge and experience in executive leadership, business insights, and marketing tools that have insightfully given her the confidence to initiate and build strong successful music programs throughout her 40-year career as a music educator in the East Texas area. Mrs. Eikner brings this experience to her new position as the District Fine Arts Director for Cumberland Academy propelling a passionate approach and desire to serve, inspire and encourage the students and dedicated fine arts teachers and administrators at Cumberland as they successfully advance their growing fine arts programs from local to state-wide notoriety.
Mrs. Eikner and her husband Steve of 40 years reside in Tyler and have three children, two son-in-laws, and four grandchildren.