For Kristin Crase and Travis Cunningham, music education at Forreston isn’t just a subject on the schedule—it’s a lifelong calling that began in the very classrooms where they now teach. Both alumni of the district, they stepped into the roles once held by their own mentors, closing a circle that continues to shape students’ lives through band, choir, and the fine arts.

Kristin, who teaches first through third-grade music, elementary art, and choir for grades six through twelve, started her professional journey in music therapy. But something pulled her back home. “I realized I really missed Forreston,” she says. “I also realized how much I love kids and the creativity they bring. Watching them express themselves through music is just incredible.”

Travis, who covers fourth and fifth grade music as well as band for grades six through twelve, found his inspiration in the band room under longtime director Chip Braker. “Music always came natural to me,” he recalls. “By my freshman year, I knew I wanted to do what he did. He pushed me, challenged me, and showed me how much you can grow in a program like this. Now I just want to provide the same kind of experience for our kids.”

Both describe music as uniquely powerful—something that uses the entire brain and ties into every other discipline. “We do math in music, history in music, reading in music,” Kristin says. “It enhances everything else.” Travis adds that it’s also a place where all students can find belonging. “Some kids may not have another spot where they feel valued, but here, everyone matters. Take away one instrument or one voice, and the whole ensemble changes.”

That sense of inclusion extends well beyond the classroom. Music at Forreston is deeply woven into community life—from Friday night football games to graduation ceremonies, concerts, and local traditions. “Our concerts are incredibly well attended,” Travis notes. “A lot of parents were once in band or choir themselves, and they still value it. The community really supports us.”

The program starts early. Kristin introduces rhythm, listening, and steady beat to first graders, building a foundation that carries into choir and band beginning in sixth grade. By then, every student must choose at least one fine arts elective—band, choir, or art—for three years. “That requirement shows how much our administration values the arts,” Kristin explains. “They’re saying, “This is important. You need this.”

For both teachers, the story is deeply personal. Kristin remembers the inspiration of her choir directors, Amy Harn and later Heidi Fehlhafer. Travis credits Chip Braker for helping him realize that teaching music could be a career. And now, both stand in those very roles for the next generation. “It’s a full circle moment,” Kristin says. “I loved music here as a student. Now I get to help kids discover that same love.”

Together, they’re carrying on Forreston’s long tradition of musical excellence while making sure every child—whether shy or outgoing, athletic or artistic—has a place where they belong, a harmony they help create.