Art in the Hills for September
October 1, 2025
Sharon Tabaczka Knapp Forest Elementary School
Jen Daly, Northern Trials.
Jen is in her 27th year of teaching in FHPS as the 5th-grade music teacher, adaptive music teacher, and 6th-grade choir teacher. Jen graduated from North Park University in Chicago, Il in 1998. She taught music in Elgin/Bartlett, IL, for one year before moving back to Michigan with her husband. She long-term subbed for more than 180 days and was then hired as a full-time music teacher in FHPS. Jen has taught at Central Woodlands, Central Middle, Orchard View, Knapp Forest, and Northern Trails in those 27 years. She is currently at Northern Trails full-time and loving it, as it is her full-time spot. Jen loves getting to know all of the students who come through the doors here. Jen loves connecting with students and showing them all that they are musically capable of. In her free time, Jen enjoys reading in a quiet place and spending time with my kids, who are 12, 17, and 22. Fun fact about Jen, she imported her husband from Ireland after meeting him online Pre-AOL!! :
Central Woodlands Art
Central Woodlands 5th graders are learning about the artist and producer, Tim Burton. We looked at his artistic style through images from Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, Frankenweenie, Wednesday, and Beetlejuice. Mrs. Stanton even dressed as Wednesday to inspire her students!
Guest Conductor for 8th grade concert Joe Harmsen
Joe Harmsen joined the orchestra team as Assistant Director of Orchestras at Jenison High School in 2022. A 2010 alumnus of JHS, Joe is thrilled to be back at his alma mater and getting to work alongside many of the inspirational teachers he had while he was in school. His primary duties include assisting with the high school and 5th & 6th grade orchestras. Joe earned his Bachelor of Music Education with Performance Honors from Grand Valley State University and his Master of Music in Music Education from Michigan State University. He spent the first six years of his teaching career as the Director of Orchestras at Escanaba Area Public Schools in the U.P., and then taught orchestra for one year at Rochester Community Schools on the east side of the state. Joe has spent many years as a counselor & assistant director at the MASTA String Camps, as well as a counselor & string coach at the Superior String Alliance Camps in the U.P. He enjoys spending his free time outdoors, biking, playing video games, playing D&D, and catching up with friends & family.
Guest Conductor for 7th grade concert Victoria Zokoe
Since graduation, Victoria has been teaching elementary general music and middle school orchestra – now at West Ottawa! It been amazing to be back at her Alma mater, walking the same halls she did as a high school student, mentoring 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in their musical and life endeavors. She has always had strong ties to the fine arts programs around Holland, and has worked as a dance instructor for Avalon School of the Arts for the past 18 years and with the Holland Symphony Youth Orchestras programming as the general manager and conductor of their Junior String beginning orchestra. She is so proud to be a part of the West Ottawa orchestra program and loves that she can provide the same high quality educational experience for her students each and every day she had.
Meet Michael Durga and Matia Kolber
Mike Durga is a 7th grade violinist. Mike likes playing his instrument with all of his friends. He also love when he get every note correct and just feel in tune with the music. Mike is excited for the extravaganza because he gets to showcase challenging songs that his class has been working on, in front of his friends and family.
Matia Kolber is a 8th-grade cellist. Matia loves playing music, but she also loves how everybody is so connected. One of her favorite things is when she gets challenging music and learning how to play with different techniques and styles! She is excited about the string extravaganza to see how the three schools can come together to create fun music!
Director of Orchestras Lian Robinson is in her 4th year of teaching. What excites her about teaching orchestra is seeing how excited the students get about learning and mastering new music. She loves the community in Eastern orchestra and how much the students genuinely enjoy playing their instruments. She is excited for the upcoming string extravaganza because she sees all the students collaborating across the three schools. She hopes her students learn to become more comfortable with new conductors, new styles of teaching, and she hopes they are open-minded to new ideas during this event.
Meet Urvija Udayagiri and Collin Feutz
Urvija Udayagiri is a 7th-grade violist. Urvija enjoys being able to share experiences with other people and learn how to play new notes and new songs. She is excited about the string extravaganza because of how well the groups sound in preparing for the concert.
Collin Feutz is an 8th-grade violinist. Collin says he loves being in the orchestra because he enjoys creating music and appreciates how it brings joy to people. He is very excited about the string extravaganza concert because he will get to show off his new skills, and his family will get to see how well the orchestra plays together and how much they have improved.
Director of Orchestras Teresa Strobel-Gagiu: " is in her 7th year of teaching. What excites her about teaching is that the Orchestra was always the place she felt safe and where she could be herself when she was a student. Teresa hopes to create that same environment she once loved for her students. At the same time, continue to challenge them to create excellent music that they love and are excited to play. She is excited about the upcoming string Extravaganza to showcase all the hard work the students have put in, while also getting to admire and learn from the guest instructors and fellow Forest Hills orchestra teachers. Teresa is hoping the students have fun! The music that was programmed is really fun...challenging, but exciting to play! She hopes this continues to spark their love for music, while also meeting new friends from the other schools!
Meet Roland Anderson and Ronin Clifford
Roland Anderson is a 7th-grade violist. Roland really likes that, in the orchestra, they are working together to do something. I think it is also fun to see how it all comes together. She is excited about the string extravaganza because we have worked really hard in orchestra, and we can do a good job at the concert. She thinks a lot of people will really enjoy and have fun with it, including the group.
Ronin Clifford is an 8th-grade violinist. Ronin says he loves being able to play the violin, as well as learning songs that can be enjoyed by everyone. It's amazing how people enjoy what he is playing. He is very excited about the string extravaganza concert because he likes the pizza, as well as seeing friends from other districts. And of course, the songs that they play.
Director of Orchestras Andrew Pool: " is in his 30th year of teaching. What excites Andrew about teaching is the great joy of sharing music with young people. Music has always been a very important force in his life. Being a music teacher gives him a chance to lead students to discover musical expression and the teamwork of playing in an ensemble. Andrew is excited about the string extravaganza because it's a chance to get students from three schools together to share music and to perform as a team. It's always a neat experience for our students and their families to witness this event. He hopes his students have a sense of success and accomplishment following this concert. That the energy they feel will propel them to new heights of musical excellence, both as individuals and as members of their ensembles. And that they have a sense of connection with the players from the other schools. This event shows what we can accomplish together through teamwork and collaboration, but it also gives us a connection to music that is greater than we might achieve alone