Lake Highlands choir enthusiasts are singing Hallelujah over news that Kari Gilbertson has been hired as choir director at LHHS. Kari (pronounced like auto, not affection) has taught music at Forest Meadow Junior High for 14 years. She was RISD Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2001.
Gilbertson (second from the left in the photo) replaces long-time directors Michael O’Hern and Terry Berrier, who announced their retirement this month.
“I am honored and pleased to carry on the tradition of excellence at Lake Highlands High School,” said Gilbertson. “I feel that I’m ready for the task and I know that I’m the luckiest person in the world to have wonderful colleagues and friends to turn to for advice.”
Students moving up from junior high and the freshman center are unlikely to see big changes. The Lake Highlands choral department (shown in the photo) has traditionally worked as a team at contest and performance time, so students from both junior highs have seen her sunny, ever-encouraging style.
So far, Gilbertson’s news has received more than 300 likes on Facebook, and she’ll be on hand when the LH Choir Booster Club hosts a farewell reception for O’Hern and Berrier Thursday, June 6 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the LHHS library. Former students and parents are especially encouraged to attend.
