Meet Jerilyn Ornellas

ACDA has influenced my career both personally and professionally along with impacting me long before I became a teacher. My career to be a music educator was very long and not traditional. Growing up as a singer, ACDA events nurtured my love for choir and inspired me to pursue music education. 

After completing my undergraduate at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, I took a part time teaching job for a middle school choir and those were the best two years to start my teaching. Because of this experience, I ended up going back to school for my degree in music education. ACDA, including the UH Mānoa college chapter, played a crucial part in helping me grow as an upcoming teacher and musician. 
During college, ACDA helped me develop the skills and confidence I needed in the classroom, even as I balanced teaching middle school choir while completing my degree. Through ACDA, I’ve built lasting connections within Hawaiʻi’s choral community and gained meaningful leadership experience.

As an elementary choir teacher, I continue to attend ACDA events so I can keep learning and be the best teacher I can be for my students. I look forward to the day I can bring my own keiki to festivals and pass on the inspiration that ACDA gave me.

There are some exciting things happening for the rest of the semester. Our singers have been busy preparing for our annual Leadership Day, where every grade level will have the chance to perform in front of their classmates, teachers, families, and community members. This event is always a highlight of the year and gives students the opportunity to shine while celebrating their growth as musicians and leaders.

In May, our choir will also host a Spring Concert to share all the music they’ve been working on. We can’t wait to end the school year with a choir concert with our family and community. Check out the Kalihi Kai Elementary Facebook page later in the spring for more information!

One of the most important choir memories of my career comes from my time singing with the UH Chamber Choir at UH Mānoa. In that ensemble, I grew tremendously as a vocalist and musician, and I formed friendships that have lasted into my professional life. Many of the singers I stood beside then are now my colleagues.

My most treasured choir memory is my first Voice of Aloha tour, when we traveled from Montreal through New England all the way to New York City. It was one of my first times seeing so many incredible places on the continent, but what stayed with me most were the people we met and the music we shared. Singing in beautiful basilicas, churches, and performance spaces helped me truly understand how choral music can connect individuals from all over the world. Those experiences continue to shape the way I teach and inspire me to create meaningful musical moments for my own students.