About Our Teachers
Ms. Johnson
Kerry Johnson is the Director of Choirs at Worthington High School. She holds a Master of Educational Leadership Degree with a focus on music education from Southwest Minnesota State University and a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from South Dakota State University.
At Worthington High School, Johnson directs Varsity Choir and Concert Choir as well as co-curricular ensembles Trojan Express, Bel Canto, and Vox. Additionally, she teaches beginning guitar, History of Rock, and AP Music Theory.
Prior to teaching in Worthington, Johnson served as Director of Choirs for Sauk Rapids-Rice High School and Pipestone Area High School in Minnesota.
Johnson is an active and proud member of the Minnesota Music Educator’s Association, the American Choral Director’s Association, and the Voice Care Network.
Mrs. Loy
Melanie Loy currently teaches 4th grade Orchestra at Intermediate School and directs Varsity Strings and the WHS Orchestra at Worthington High School. Since coming to Worthington in 2006, Mrs. Loy has guided the 4th-12th grade string program to grow from 90 students to over 300 students now playing orchestra instruments in School District 518.
Mrs. Loy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. In 1983, she attended the Suzuki International Teachers Conference & Summer School Workshop in Matsumoto, Japan. In 2008 and 2010, she attended the Ohio State University String Teacher Summer Workshop in Columbus, OH.
Melanie is the proud parent of three children and blessed with four grandchildren. Phillip earned an Electrical Engineering degree from NDSU. His wife Maari is a Pharmacist and they have three children – Mabel, Jalen & Toby. Eric completed a PhD in English from the University of Rochester, New York and works for a company in New York City. Heather earned a Business and Communications degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Heather is married to Jonah Oberloh from Worthington who earned his Computer Science degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. They have one son named Hudson.
In addition to orchestral teaching experiences, Mrs. Loy taught private lessons for ages 4 to adult (violin, viola, cello and bass), directed and choreographed children’s choirs for churches in North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon and Florida and also performed on violin with several community orchestras in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon and Florida. Worthington Area Symphony Orchestra was founded in 2010 through leadership from Melanie Loy, Beth Habicht, Karen Pfeifer and Sue Simonson.
Mr. Thompson
Mike Thompson is the Director of Bands at Worthington High School. He holds an Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental and Classroom Music Education from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
At Worthington High School, Mr. Thompson directs The “Spirit of Worthington” Trojan Marching Band, the Trojan Concert Band, Trojan Jazz, and the pep bands. Mr. Thompson also teaches class guitar. Outside of Worthington, Mr. Thompson travels southern Minnesota and the Midwest teaching on the brass instructional team with River City Rhythm Drum and Bugle Corps out of the Twin Cities, teaching visual with the Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps in St. Peter, Minnesota, and serving as a general instructor with the Minnesota State University, Mankato Maverick Machine Marching Band during their band camp.
A French Horn player by trade, Mr. Thompson also maintains an active performing career in Worthington and Sioux Falls, SD. He is the principal horn player of the Worthington Area Symphony Orchestra in Worthington as well as performing with the Sioux Empire Brass Society in Sioux Falls, SD.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the Minnesota Band Directors Association and the Minnesota Music Educators Association.