By Blanca Hernandez, Reporter
Elisa Flaherty, the accompanist for the Senior High choirs, said she enjoys working with her students and spending time with them.
“I like getting to know my students and getting to create music with them,” she said.
Flaherty has been teaching at GISH for two years and has worked for Grand Island Public Schools for six years and a half years.
She said that she has four children Samuel, Lydia, Nigel and Ian, who she said were involved in and enjoy the arts and are involved in music.
“My son Samuel was in show choir and band at GISH and is still playing for the marching band at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln,” she said. “Lydia was also involved in show choir and orchestra at GISH.”
Flaherty said she sees herself as more than a person who plays the piano. She said she gets to help Jesse LaBrie, the music director, with a variety of tasks for the music program.
“I am there for students who need help mentally and emotionally. If they have friendship problems, I try my best to be there for them,” she said.
Her favorite part about being in the music department and helping out with the piano is being able to create music with her students, she said.
Flaherty went to the University of Nebraska-Kearney to major in music but injured her arm and ultimately earned her degree in history.
She said she found her way back to music because she really enjoys playing the piano
and believes that music is important in a person’s life.
“I think music is important because it helps people find joy and meaning in their lives. It helps them deal with stress,” she said.
Flaherty said that she wants to keep helping students in any way that she can and wants them to know that they are doing a really good job. “They have worked really hard and have tried their best to put on their performances. I can’t wait to see what next year brings,” she said.
The Islander 