Kristi Bergner
Biography
Kristi Bergner is from Clarke County, Virginia; a small rural community located in the northernmost part of the Shenandoah Valley. While her studies and adventures have taken her across the world, Kristi is currently working as the Pre K - 5 music specialist at the Winthrop School in Boston, Massachusetts. On some weekends, she also works with the Admissions department of Berklee College of Music as an interviewer for prospective students.
In 2014, Kristi graduated from The University of Virginia with her M..Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction (focusing on curriculum, teaching, and learning as they occur in the music classroom). The year before, Kristi graduated with honors from Berklee College of Music with a B.M. in Music Education.
Kristi performs with clarinet, mallet percussion, saxophone, piano, guitar, and voice. Past private instructors include Patrice Leipham (piano), Dr. Adrien Re (woodwinds), Caleb Nei (piano), and Harry Skoler (woodwinds). Recent performances include baritone sax and bass clarinet for Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre’s production of ‘Crazy For You’, ASL interpreter for Women of the World Presents: Koloro (featured in the Boston Globe), and mallet percussion for the Berklele Percussion Ensemble.
During the summers, Kristi has worked as an outreach & volunteer coordinator for Bluemont Concert Series in Virginia. Kristi’s additional recent employment history includes the position of Middle School Music Specialist at the McKay School in East Boston as well as clinic/camp instructional positions for several VA and MA high school bands. Her past teaching experiences have included K-12 general music, music technology/production, music theory, jazz, orchestra, percussion, choral, band, indoor drumline, marching band, and music theatre.
In addition to creating and working with music, Kristi enjoys listening to NPR, cooking, hiking, swimming, exploring the MFA, and hanging out with her awesome cats, Niles and Daphne.
In 2014, Kristi graduated from The University of Virginia with her M..Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction (focusing on curriculum, teaching, and learning as they occur in the music classroom). The year before, Kristi graduated with honors from Berklee College of Music with a B.M. in Music Education.
Kristi performs with clarinet, mallet percussion, saxophone, piano, guitar, and voice. Past private instructors include Patrice Leipham (piano), Dr. Adrien Re (woodwinds), Caleb Nei (piano), and Harry Skoler (woodwinds). Recent performances include baritone sax and bass clarinet for Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre’s production of ‘Crazy For You’, ASL interpreter for Women of the World Presents: Koloro (featured in the Boston Globe), and mallet percussion for the Berklele Percussion Ensemble.
During the summers, Kristi has worked as an outreach & volunteer coordinator for Bluemont Concert Series in Virginia. Kristi’s additional recent employment history includes the position of Middle School Music Specialist at the McKay School in East Boston as well as clinic/camp instructional positions for several VA and MA high school bands. Her past teaching experiences have included K-12 general music, music technology/production, music theory, jazz, orchestra, percussion, choral, band, indoor drumline, marching band, and music theatre.
In addition to creating and working with music, Kristi enjoys listening to NPR, cooking, hiking, swimming, exploring the MFA, and hanging out with her awesome cats, Niles and Daphne.
Statement of Purpose
I believe that the guarantee for the best quality of life of future generations begins with a comprehensive, balanced education. An education is a catalyst for reflection, expression and invention that can place a child on a path to emotional and financial security even in the most crippled of communities. I believe in a society where education is placed on the highest pedestal, where no department, may it be math, physical education, or the arts, starves for funding or enrollment. I believe this Elysian Fields of education to possess the all-encompassing educational opportunities I would want for my children, the opportunities and means that should be accessible to every child, which are fundamental to the development of world citizens. These beliefs fuel my passion to be a part of this public education system – a system where more students can be afforded the privilege to the balanced education our country advertises.
While the fine arts are only a facet of a balanced education, they remain essential to the development of an individual. Music, in particular, contains and is found in every ‘core’ subject taught in the classroom. In some form or another, music has been a part of every American citizen’s life experience. My goal as an educator is not only to augment this experience, but also to develop and foster a music program that is visible in its community while remaining accessible and culturally relevant to each unique student. By utilizing hands-on approaches (such as those suggested by Orff-Schulwerk), one-on-one tutelage, and the incorporation of the wealth of technological resources made readily available by today’s society, students will be able to reflect, express and invent through music. I believe that giving every student the opportunity to access music education at least three days a week will help those students develop crucial life skills. Furthermore, I believe those skills will enhance the scholastic experience of students, encouraging personal and academic growth, and cultivating their fullest potentials as individuals.
While the fine arts are only a facet of a balanced education, they remain essential to the development of an individual. Music, in particular, contains and is found in every ‘core’ subject taught in the classroom. In some form or another, music has been a part of every American citizen’s life experience. My goal as an educator is not only to augment this experience, but also to develop and foster a music program that is visible in its community while remaining accessible and culturally relevant to each unique student. By utilizing hands-on approaches (such as those suggested by Orff-Schulwerk), one-on-one tutelage, and the incorporation of the wealth of technological resources made readily available by today’s society, students will be able to reflect, express and invent through music. I believe that giving every student the opportunity to access music education at least three days a week will help those students develop crucial life skills. Furthermore, I believe those skills will enhance the scholastic experience of students, encouraging personal and academic growth, and cultivating their fullest potentials as individuals.