As the teenaged Ms. Miranda Pham practiced her flute alone in the Kimmons Orchestra room to prepare for All Region, Mr. Manley (Northside High School band director) popped his head in to see who was making the beautiful sounds. Upon discovering her, Mr. Manley encouraged Ms. Pham to keep practicing.

“That was one of the reasons why I decided to continue music after high school — I felt capable,” Ms. Pham said.

After graduating from UAFS with a Bachelor’s in Music Education: Instrumental grades K-12, Ms. Pham next earned a Master’s in Music Performance from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Before returning to Kimmons as the Choir director, Ms. Pham taught private music lessons for two years to beginning level and college-aged students.

Ever since she was a kid, Ms. Pham loved singing, but she did not pursue it as a career.

“I was told by my parents that I would not be able to make a living as a singer,” Ms. Pham said. “Ironically enough, I got the job as the Choir director here!”

What Ms. Pham likes best about returning here as an adult is the staff she gets to work with.

“They have been some of the most supportive and understanding people and do not hesitate to help when a friend is in need,” Ms. Pham said.

In her first year as a Choir director, Ms. Pham achieved success at the Choral Performance Assessment (CPA) when both her Advanced Men and Advanced Women choirs received a Superior (I) rating for sight reading and an Excellent rating (II for men’s & IIR for women’s) for their concert performance.

One surprising fact about Ms. Pham is she’s allergic to cats yet has one named Mr. Pickles.

“Sometimes the allergies get so bad that I get hives all over my body, but it is worth it because she is my baby,” Ms. Pham said.

Outside of school, Ms. Pham loves to cook and enjoys the freeing feeling of going down a hill and with the flow while skateboarding.

“It’s like all the weight and responsibilities that I have disappear,” Ms. Pham said. “Also, the adrenaline rush is exciting!”