Formerly a Nittany Lion, a Griffin and a Panther, three new faces find their Mountain Lion roar in the music wing of the B-building. Band director Brandon Kunder, chorus director Brett Keith and orchestra director Jennifer Kist bring music to the halls of the high school through the instruction of student voice and instrument performance.
Kunder, formerly the AAJHS band director, joined the AAHS staff as a Penn State graduate with string instrument teaching experience at the district’s elementary schools. Kist graduated from Seton Hill University in May 2025 after holding different musical positions in college, and Keith taught Northern Bedford County High School general music and choir before deciding to accept the Altoona position.
Although all three of them originate from different places, backgrounds and experiences, they look forward to this next step in their lives and hope to “keep [the department] growing, keep it thriving.”
Da Capo (from the beginning)
Kist’s musical journey began in elementary school when she picked up the piano and fell in love with playing music.
“I always wanted to practice; I always wanted to be on the piano,” Kist said. “I started playing for mass and for churches, and I absolutely loved it. When I could start taking violin, I did. Luckily, my parents were super supportive of getting me lessons and things, so I’m very grateful for that and that I had that opportunity. Going into high school, I started joining more musical things, and really got into [music] more.… The Johnstown Youth Symphony Orchestra was really what pushed me to think about music more seriously as a career. I love that ensemble.”
In high school, Kist began teaching private lessons and continued to pursue musical extracurricular activities in college.
“I was in, honestly, everything. That’s what I loved about [Seton Hill University]: I could be in everything. I was in the piano ensemble, all the choirs, handbell choir, all the orchestras and in chamber music. I was in the marching band in college as well. I came to mass and did some solo singing stuff too,” Kist said.
Violin and piano are Kist’s main instruments, but she is also an organist and enjoys singing. She has taught at Ferndale High School and was a substitute teacher near Seton Hill. Additionally, Kist is the assistant band director at Westmont Hilltop High School.
“I grew up going to different music things here, through the PMEA (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association festivals): Districts, Regions, all that,” Kist said. “I’m still one of the official directors at the Wehnwood camp. I just really love the area. I love the people. I know this school really supports music, and I just loved how amazing the music programs were here. I’ve also always looked up to [former orchestra director] Mrs. Detwiler throughout my high school years, at senior festivals and things like that. When I got this position, it was absolutely crazy. I couldn’t believe it, so I’m really happy to be here.”
Kist’s music teachers inspired her to attend college for music.
“Seeing my music teachers and how their positive attitude had an effect on me and all the students really inspired me, especially my violin teachers, privately and in school,” Kist said. “I saw how energetic and how happy they were to come to work every day and teach music, and I wanted to have that same passion and show that to my future students. So every day, when I come in, I think of [those teachers].”
Kunder was also inspired to go into music education by a former band director he had in high school.
“I had a really influential music teacher in high school, and I found that I really enjoyed teaching and that I love playing,” Kunder said. [My interests] just came together.”
The Penn State alumnus marched in the Blue Band for three years playing trumpet and also participated in other bands and orchestras while in college.
“[I fell in love with music] pretty early,” Kunder said. “I was around nine or 10 when I started with music. I’d say it was probably right around the beginning of high school when I really decided it’s what I wanted to do.”
Keith discovered the art of singing in preschool. Now, he is able to work with high school students daily and share his love for music with them.
“My earliest memories, I could say, were probably when I was roughly about four or five years old, and I was singing and enjoying it, whether it was in preschool or kindergarten,” Keith said. “That was one of my favorite classes or portions of the day.”
Keith attended Penn State University and was a part of the Penn State Glee Club, the chamber singers and concert choir.
“I actually wanted to get into teaching because I wanted to share what I was feeling through music, and I knew that it was powerful. We needed folks to continue sharing that in a guided fashion,” Keith said. “I went into teaching, got some time away from it, and then came back to it because I realized it was my passion.”
Musical consonance
For Keith, music is more than just something people hear.
“[Music] is feeling through sound. It connects us. It’s a way to communicate. It’s a way that we can unite and express, as far as communication, but also as far as an art form too. It’s something that’s innate in everybody’s human being. That’s why it’s important that I feel that we continue to bring that up,” Keith said.
Kunder feels the band represents the power of community.
“To me, music is important because it has the opportunity to bring people together, and provides an outlet through musical and personal expression,” Kunder said.
Kist believes that music is special and set apart from other extracurricular activities because it can be shared a lifetime.
“[Music] is important to me because of that energy and that passion it gives you that not a lot of other things can,” Kist said. “You use both sides of your brain in ways that other things can’t [in music], and it’s also so enriching for your life and is something that’ll stick with you. I always tell people, sports eventually [stop in] your life, but there’s so many people that are in their 90s, hundreds, and they’re still playing, and that’s just so inspiring. Music can stick with you for the rest of your life.”
Coda
Kunder’s most memorable moment this school year so far was the first half time show at Hollidaysburg for the first football game of the year. He describes his time with the band as “optimistic.”
“I hope I get to have a strong connection with students, to build trust, to be able to push forward in our musical goals,” Kunder said. “Personally, I would like to see myself become a more efficient teacher.”
At the end of the year, he hopes to see the band “continuing Altoona’s awesome tradition of an incredible music program.”
Kist’s favorite moments from the school year so far were the first days of school where she was able to meet her new students and their parents. Through her experience teaching at the Wehnwood music camp over the summer, she was able to see some familiar faces as orchestra director of the junior high and high school.
“I hope that [students] can see how much I love [music] and care about it, and care about teaching them not only that music can be a career but can be something they can keep with them for the rest of their lives,” Kist said. “You can still do music in college. You can still do it for the rest of your life without joining it full-time as your career. Music can enrich your life, and it can help others. Music is a service profession and a service experience—something you can really use to give back.”
Kist’s experience with the music department so far has been a blessing, and she wants to continue the department’s legacy and grow as an educator. For Keith, this experience has also been a blessing, and he aims to make an impact on his student’s lives and show them that one doesn’t have to be a professional musician to “take music with [one] in every aspect of life.”
“[I want the department] to continue thriving and growing, to take steps forward for the future and create a community where people feel welcome, included and that they belong,” Keith said. “We all have so many different aspects in our lives, but music is something that unites us, and I feel like that’s something that we can bring together as human beings—not only the people who make it, but also the people we share it with.”
Keith enjoyed the first full week of school the most where he was able to get to know his students, make music with them, and see them “kind of smile and watch the light bulbs go off.”
“This has been really, really fun. I’m excited for the rest of the year, and we’re really grateful to Altoona and all the people that [we’ve] met so far. Being able to grow up knowing about this program and knowing people here—and now getting to work here—[is a blessing],” Kist said.
The three new music directors are pouncing forward into the school year, hoping to leave their Mountain Lion paw print in students’ lives.
