Our Team

Cityside Choir Director

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Taryn is in her eleventh year of teaching and ninth as the choir director at Cityside. Taryn teaches all of the Cityside Choirs including Honors Choir. Before teaching at Cityside, Taryn taught in the Hamilton area and worked as a freelance choreographer, theatre director, and voice teacher. She also directed the middle school theatre program in Zeeland, directing and choreographing over 25 productions between Cityside and Creekside!

 

Taryn holds bachelors and masters degrees from Grand Valley State University and is also an active member of the Michigan School Vocal Music Association. Choirs at Cityside under Mrs. Gontjes have consistently received top ratings at District Choral Festival and high compliments from MSVMA adjudicators.

 

Outside of school, Taryn loves watching and playing sports, wrestling with her two boxers, and spending time with her husband Jaymes and daughters, Dempsey, Phoenix, and Hollyn.

Cityside Music Parapro

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This is Tessa’s second year as a parapro in Zeeland, and Cityside is so fortunate to have her! She assists band, orchestra, and choir with many tasks, works with small groups, teaches sectionals, organizes the department fundraiser, plans trips, and so much more. 

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Tessa is a graduate of GVSU in music education and played in the saxophone studio there. She also loves to play piano and other woodwind and brass instruments. She also teaches some band classes at Zeeland Christian! When she’s not doing all things musical, Tessa loves to read, crochet, and bake sourdough bread, but most of her free time is spent with her husband Ralph and her Maltipoo puppy, Barney.

 

Cityside is so fortunate to have Mrs. Worthington and we appreciate her so much! 

Choir Pianist/Performance Assistant​

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Cityside is SO excited to welcome Jill Meeuwsen back this year! Jill is no stranger to our program, as she worked as our Music Parapro and Choir Pianist for over 20 years! 

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Jill will now be working as our Pianist and Choir Performance Assistant, spending her time in the classroom, working with small groups, sections, soloists, and assisting with full group rehearsals as well as assisting with all performance needs. 

 

Outside of school, Jill runs her own piano studio, enjoys baking and gardening, traveling to the Smoky Mountains, and spending time with her family (especially her grandson George and her Golden Retriever, Maya!). 

 

Cityside is thrilled to be able to work with Mrs. Meeuwsen and we are so thankful!