Mrs. Kaylee Santanello’s repertoire of teaching experience is far from limited, and her appreciation for orchestra is far from minuscule. Though this is her first year in a high school, she and her instruments have long been prepared for the challenge they’ll undertake. After 12 years of teaching, Santanello has come to value all forms of music, regardless of its source or style. 

After growing up in a music-oriented household, Santanello always knew her career would involve teaching others to appreciate music the same way she did. However, her taste in music ended up being quite different from that of her family.

If asked, many professors would admit that teaching wasn’t their first career choice, but Santanello’s fondness for music and the joy it brings to others carried her right into the arms of education.

“I never really saw myself doing anything else. I’ve always been indecisive, but for whatever reason, this long-term goal of being an orchestra teacher stuck with me,” Santanello asserted.

This passion for orchestral music eventually brought her to the music group El Sistema, a Venezuela-founded music education program that aims to give a voice to financially struggling individuals who would otherwise not have the funds to play an instrument.

“There were so many activities that we did beyond [music], like leadership. There was a lot of mentorship from the older to the younger kids, which I found really sweet,” Santanello reminisced.

This organization served as her first glimpse into the world of music at all stages, and she was able to grow alongside K-12 students as they furthered their musical careers. From El Sistema to elementary schools to the high school, Santanello has witnessed musicians in many phases of their music careers, and the sudden jump in abilities has taken her by surprise.

“It’s shocking coming from elementary, so this is like a whole other world. Being able to focus just on our craft is exciting for me, and [my students] have been so helpful,” Santanello expressed.

The art of music is akin to a passion project for many, and Santanello believes that orchestra is something that can only exist if the musicians who create it are willing to connect with each other. Passion, mutual respect, and the formation of relationships are the cornerstones of the family that Santanello sees in her orchestra.

North Penn is only one piece of her ever-growing musical career, and Santanello’s appreciation for both her past experiences and her future learnings has allowed her to help her students step into a similar mindset. In her opinion, though the foundations of orchestra have undergone little change throughout her life, the ever-increasing passion of her students helps Mrs. Kaylee Santanello continue to push orchestra well into the future.