Spotlight on a Member

By Brianna Chenevey

The dictionary defines music as “an art of sound in time that expresses ideas or emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color.” For some, music can be healing. For others, it may be a way to express ideas or emotions. No matter what, music touches everyone from various cultures around the world in one way or another, which is why music education programs are so important. Christine Lovejoy is a music instructor at Herman Intermediate School. She enriches students’ lives and education by inviting them to explore the enjoyable subject of music. Learning to play a musical instrument not only provides an outlet for Christine’s students, but it gives them a sense of achievement. It keeps them interested, engaged, and motivated to come to school each day. It builds pride, confidence, a sense of imagination, and an overall positive outlook on learning.

Of course, Christine is also a musician herself, and when she is not working with students at Herman Intermediate School, she is playing drums in shows and concerts all over the Bay Area, from Burlingame to Gilroy. In March of 2018, Christine became involved with the WVLO (West Valley Light Opera) Musical Theatre Company. WVLO is a non-profit, community and family-based theatre that allows all types of artists to come together, study and learn the craft, and be a part of the creative process. After subbing her first show, “Sister Act”, with the WVLO Musical Theatre Company, Christine followed up with “Spamalot” that summer. Last March, Christine played in “Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller” and was presented the Orchestra Award for being an outstanding member of the orchestra. In late June, Christine played in “The Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Review”. She is currently involved in the WVLO’s production of “Mamma Mia!” which opens on Saturday, November 9th and closes on Saturday, December 7th. Anyone interested in attending can order tickets online at http://www.wvlo.org. All performances are located at the Saratoga Civic Theater. Christine is also currently playing in “Mamma Mia!” for Burlingame High School. “I’m in the thick of the ‘Mamma Mia!’ bug,” she states, but with memorable songs like “Dancing Queen”, who can blame her? Christine hopes to continue her love and enjoyment of playing with the WVLO orchestra in their production of “Legally Blonde”, which comes out next summer. After all, it is her favorite show.

WVLO performs three Broadway type musicals each season and is currently in their 55th season. Two of the three producers at WVLO include Earl Masuda, a retired teacher from Oak Ridge Elementary School, and Nancy Kwong, a Speech and Language Pathologist in the Oak Grove School District.