Christopher J. Piela

Christopher is in his 21st year teaching choirs at Edina Edina High School and his 31st year in the District. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Gustavus Adolphus College where he studied choral music with Karle Erickson and Kenneth Jennings. He also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Secondary Education/Curriculum and Instruction from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

He has served as Director of Music at Linden Hills U.C.C. in Minneapolis and was an original member of World Voices/Singers in Accord. He has also served in various leadership positions for the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota. In addition to directing, he is an active composer and arranger for both piano and choral music and has taught both private piano and voice lessons.

He resides in Edina with his wife, Melissa, and their two children, Lauren, 22, and Andrew, 19.

Mr. Piela directs:
•Concert Choir (Hour 3)
•Hornet Chorale (Hour 2)
•9TTB Choir (Hours 4)
•Chamber Singers (extra-curricular)
•Treble Chorus (extra-curricular)

Scott M. Lehrke

This is Scott’s 22nd year directing vocal music in Edina Public Schools. He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from St. Olaf College, and earned a Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of St. Thomas.

In addition to directing choirs, he is an experienced accompanist, and has been organist, pianist, and choral conductor at several Twin Cities-area churches. Scott's teaching expertise and research is in the changing male voice, with particular interest in development of tenor-bass choirs. He has presented at Summer Dialogue of the American Choral Directors' Association of Minnesota, and in 2011, his Valley View Freshmen Cavaliers performed at the ACDA-MN State Convention.

When not at EHS, he’s probably at home in St. Louis Park, working in the yard, catching up on roughly three-dozen podcasts, and also enjoying the cat-capers of Hazy and Charleston.

Mr. Lehrke directs:
•Cantemus (Hour 6)
•Cougar Chorus (Hour 2)
•9TTB Choir (Hours 1 & 5)
•TTB Ensemble (extra-curricular)
•Edina Men’s Chorus (extra-curricular)

Serina l. Jolivette

Serina is in her eighth year with Edina Choirs and her seventeenth year teaching high school choirs. Previous posts include Edgewood High School (Madison, WI), Sioux City East High School (Sioux City, IA), and Madison West High School (Madison, WI). In addition to traditional classroom choirs, Serina has worked with festival choirs, a cappella groups, show choirs, and musicals.

Originally from Onalaska, WI, she received her Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she majored in both Choral/General Music Education and Spanish Language. She earned her Masters of Music Education with an emphasis in choral conducting at the University of St. Thomas. When not directing choirs, Serina enjoys spending time with her husband, Nick, and their mini-goldendoodle, Jovie.

Ms. Jolivette directs:
•Bel Canto (Hour 6)
•9SSA Choir (Hours 1, 4, & 5)
•9-10 Ensemble (extra-curricular)
•Treble Chorus (extra-curricular)

Kaitlyn Huhta

Kaitlyn is in her second year as the choir accompanist at Edina High School. Originally from Sebeka, MN, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Bemidji State University. Her previous roles include serving as choir accompanist at Monticello Middle School and as a collaborative pianist at St. Cloud State University. Kaitlyn has been playing piano for fifteen years and is also a flutist, French horn player, and vocalist. Outside of school, she sings with the Twin Cities-based ensemble Magnum Chorum, and in a chamber choir with her friends. When not playing or singing, Kaitlyn spends her time “up north” with family, riding her bike, and caring for her many plants.