Every school year is a chance to meet new people and see new faces, but in the music department you will be greeted with a familiar face in a new role.

You may recognize her from your days of fifth grade choir. But don’t worry—you have not time traveled back to elementary school.

Upon the bittersweet retirement of community-beloved Mrs. Susan Metelsky, big shoes were left behind to fill, and Mrs. Beth Damesimo is stepping into them.

Where did you go to high school?

Beaver Area High School.

Where did you go to college?

I did my undergrad at Penn State Main, and then got my Master’s at Duquesne University.

How long have you been doing this particular job?

Here [in the high school]? Three weeks! But I’ve worked in the district since 2010.

Is this job what you have always wanted to do or did your “path” change and lead you to this new occupation?

I really love choral music, so I’m super excited to have choir as part of my schedule every day, and just in general I’m excited [because] at the elementary level I saw kids once a week, and now I get to see the same people every day. That’s pretty exciting to get to know people a lot better than I had the opportunity to do at the elementary level.

What is something you want your new students to know about you?

I think that there are no dumb questions, and I’m happy to answer questions and always available to help.

What is your favorite part about your job?

I just love the schedule! I love the variety and getting to teach drumming, ukulele, choir, and theater . . . just getting the opportunity to teach a lot of different courses throughout the day.

Did where you grow up have an impact on your occupation choice?

I would say yes. When I was in high school, I thought I was going to be an engineer for a long time until I was a senior. I realized I just really loved working with people and loved working with kids. I grew up with music as a part of my life and that was kind of when I decided to go into music education.

What is your biggest strength that will help your students at Beaver Area High School?

I consider myself very approachable and very down to earth. I have four kids of my own, so I understand everybody’s lives are busy.

What is the most satisfying part of your job?

I think just seeing people make such great progress, whether it’s in choir or in another one of the electives I teach, seeing where they start and then where they get to by the end of the course.

If you could teach another subject what would it be?

Anything in the world? I don’t have to have the skills for it? I don’t know, I really love teaching music so it's hard to even think about anything else. I think it would be really fun to teach art.

Who was/is your biggest inspiration?

I think I’ve had several inspirations over the years. My grandmother taught me music and piano from the age of 6, so she was probably first. And then I had a couple really great collegiate choir conductors who I feel like really shaped a lot of who I am as a conductor today. And then I would also say Mrs. Metelsky. She was a huge inspiration; she did so many great things in the building, and I feel like I have very big shoes to fill.

What is one thing you wish your students would take away from you and remember for life.

I think, and this is something college professors said to me, that music increases our humanity. Music makes us better people; it connects us to people in ways that we wouldn’t connect to them otherwise. I think if [students] just take that with them and have music as part of who they are after school, I’d be thrilled.

What has the transition been like, changing from elementary school to high school?

I’m excited for it! I think at the end of the day, people are people, whether they’re little people or they’re nearly adults. Talking to people like they’re people is the biggest thing to keep in mind.