In her third year as orchestra teacher at Meadowdale Middle, Mrs. Van Kempen also teaches at Meadowdale High School (Orchestra and Guitar) and Beverly Elementary (5th and 6th grade strings).

During her 23.7 year teaching career, Mrs. Van Kempen has taught in Skamania, (look it up, it does exist!) Tacoma, Lake Washington and the Edmonds School Districts, the latter for 19 years.

Mrs. Van Kempen plays most stringed instruments, but her favorites are violin, viola and guitar. She enjoys singing with her family and church. Other hobbies include freelancing playing jobs with her violin, running, weight lifting, gardening and reading.

Myrnie lives with her husband, a drama teacher at Roosevelt High School. Her two children are also musicians at Shorecrest High School. Andrew, a Junior, plays the violin, bass and guitar and Lauren, a sophomore, plays cello and sings. The arts are covered in the Van Kempen household as even "Cookie" the cat listens to classic KING FM.

Mrs. Van Kempen received her BA from Western Washington University and her Masters of Music from Central Washington University.

Mrs. Van Kempen believes that the skills taught and learned in a music class can change the lives of children. She is honored to be able to work with her orchestra students at all levels and gets a huge kick out of watching the students grow as musicians and human beings.

Myrnie VanKempen

425-431-4371