Janet Clay Kempke

I feel like a very lucky person. In 1970, while still in college, I married Dennis Kempke, who I first met at age 14. We lived in Long Beach for the first six years of our marriage while finishing school and starting careers. Our daughter, Lara was born in 1971. In 1976, we accepted a 2 year job in Alberta, Canada, where I directed a children's choir, learned to ski, and made some wonderful life-long friends. Upon our return to the states we decided to move to Irvine and have lived here ever since. Our son, Eric, was born in 1979. I have spent my life deeply involved in music as a soprano soloist and church choir director in the early years. In 1980, I founded and directed The Irvine Children's Chorus and later The Irvine Youth Chorale teaching choral music and producing concerts and musical plays throughout the city of Irvine. Over 1000 very talented children took part in my organization. In 1987, I was approached by Harbor Day School-- a private K-8 school in Corona del Mar-- to teach choral music to lower school students and direct the musical theater program in the upper grades. It was a big decision to close my business and become an employee, but one I never regretted. I spent 27 years teaching music to elementary students in a school that allowed great latitude for creativity and expansion of the program. In addition to my classroom teaching, I directed the annual Broadway musical and directed all-school concerts. I was so lucky to spend my working life at a job that was my passion. I retired in 2015! I miss the kids, not the report cards!
Still singing, still married to my sweetheart, the kids are nearby and we have 2 adorable grandchildren. We are traveling some, never miss a baseball game or a cello concert that the Gkids are in, and are re-connecting with friends we treasure! Life is good!