Karen Ambs
planned to be a doctor. The idea that she could actually make a
career of music didn't occur to her until Jan McRee, her school
and church choir director, encouraged her to follow her heart.
The medical community may have lost a doctor, but the music
world gained an educator, one who has shared her passion for
making music with hundreds of students over the years and
whose accomplishments led to her being named the Michigan Music
Educator of the Year in 2003 and Lansing Community College
Distinguished Alumni of the Year for 2004.
Karen was born and raised in Eaton Rapids. After graduation, she
enrolled at LCC as a music major. She says now, I soaked up
everything I could at LCC. I was in several choral groups,
worked as a student aide in the music office, took voice lessons
from Debbie Byrne, and appeared in Sweeney Todd, Candide, Jesus
Christ Superstar, and two operas, The Magic Flute and MacBeth.
The wonderful instructors, the frequent opportunities for
performing, and the fine education I received there gave me a
great start.
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Karen transferred to Central Michigan University and, after graduation,
went to work for the Bloomfield Hills Schools where she taught for three
years. For the past 13 years, she's been a teacher in Jenison Public
Schools where she teaches elementary music. She also teaches a class of
autistic students. She says, most of these children are very responsive
to music even though they may not respond in the ways we might expect.
Sometimes music can reach them when nothing else can. In addition,
Karen leads three choirs including the junior choir at her church. She
received her master's degree from Grand Valley State University and now
teaches a class there on music for the classroom teacher.
Besides her busy career, Karen is a wife and mother of two children,
Brandon and Emily. Modestly, Karen deflects compliments, I've been
fortunate to have such a supportive family and to work for a school
system that truly values music education. I've been blessed by having
wonderful people in my life. |
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