Elisa West
ewest@conroeisd.net
Mrs. West is the Head Choir Director at Conroe High School. She grew up in Lubbock, Texas, and moved to Brownwood, Texas, during her sophomore year of high school, graduating from Brownwood High School in 1993. She sang in choir, performed in musicals, danced on the drill team, and was a captain of the Brownwood Lionettes her senior year.
Following high school, Mrs. West earned a Bachelor of Music from Howard Payne University, double majoring in Vocal Performance and Music Education, and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at The Boston Conservatory.
Mrs. West began her 20+ year teaching career as a voice instructor for the pre-college program at Howard Payne University. After graduation, she taught elementary music at Farmers Branch Elementary before moving to Boston for graduate school. Since completing graduate school and returning to Texas, Mrs. West has taught all levels of music, including serving as a Private Voice Instructor for Sam Houston State University, Music and Choir Teacher for Deretchin Elementary, Head Choir Director for Coppell High School, Peet Junior High School, and Oak Ridge High School, and Assistant Choir Director for The Woodlands High School.
Mrs. West is a member of TMEA and TMAA. She enjoys clinicing area choirs and serving as a UIL Concert and Sight Reading judge, and her choirs consistently earn Superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading. In 2015, her Peet Chamber Choir was selected as a TMEA Invited Choir and performed at the 2016 TMEA Convention. In addition, in 2006, the Coppell HS Madrigal Choir received first place at American Classics’s Madrigal Festival under her direction and performed as the Madrigal Festival Honor Choir the following year.
Mrs. West resides in Conroe with her husband, Clay West. The two celebrated their 27th anniversary in May. They have two children and a daughter-in-love, all Conroe High School graduates! Their son, Kyler, is married and lives with his wife, Holly, in Huntsville, Texas. Their daughter, Maryn, is a junior Vocal Performance major at the University of North Texas.
Mrs. West loves spending time with family and friends. She requires coffee daily and indulges in caramel-chocolate apples occasionally. She enjoys traveling, decorating, and reading and really wishes she was better at flower gardening. She also loves teaching choir and believes it is the best profession because it combines knowing wonderful people and making great music. She is proud to be part of the Conroe Choir family!
Emily Eisterhold Kang
ekang@conroeisd.net
Emily Kang is an Assistant Choral Director at Conroe High School. Graduating as the Valedictorian of the Spring High School Class of 2011, Kang was an active participant in the Spring High School choirs and bands, making the All-State Choir in 2011.
She went on to study vocal music education at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Kang was a voice student of Nicole Franklin, and a choral music education student of Denise Eaton (secondary) and Debbie Rawlins (elementary). She sang in the SHSU Chorale under the direction of Dr. James Franklin, including a performance at Southwest ACDA Convention in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Beginning her teaching career at Conroe High School in the Spring of 2016, Kang has led several groups to UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest, earning Superior and Sweepstakes awards. She is a member of TMEA and TMAA. At the 2023 TMEA Convention, Kang presented a session entitled “Pitch Yourself and Get the Job” with one of her best friends, Courtney Munsart. Kang has served as a section leader for various Region IX choral ensembles from 2016-2023, as well as a committee member for TCDA.
She resides in Conroe, TX with her husband, Thomas, and their dog, Bones. Mrs. Kang loves to travel, hike, and spend time with friends and family. She has hiked to the top of half dome, and even swam with whale sharks! Her most favorite food is gelato, and she SO much enjoys teaching choir as a Conroe Tiger! Sic ‘em, Tigers!!
Amy Hemphill
ahemphill@conroeisd.net
Amy Hemphill is an Assistant Choral Director at Conroe High School. She graduated in 2020 at Klein Collins High School where she was an active participant in her choir.
Ms. Hemphill then moved to Huntsville, TX where she studied vocal music education at Sam Houston State University where she graduated in Spring 2024. Ms. Hemphill was a voice student of Dr. Deborah Popham, and an education student of Dr. Sandy Hinkley and Professor Debbie Rawlins. She sang in the Sam Houston State Chorale under the direction of Dr. Joshua Bronfman.
At the end of her college career, Ms. Hemphill was a student teacher for the Klein Cain Choir under the direction of Austin Dean, and a student teacher at Mahaffey Elementary School under the direction of Susan Hatley.
This school year is the beginning of Ms. Hemphill’s teaching career, and she is incredibly excited to create music with the talented students at Conroe High School.
Ms. Hemphill currently resides in Spring, TX, but will be moving to Conroe with her (future) husband, Noah Williams, after their wedding this November! Her favorite things to do are read, bake cookies, and search for coffee shops with the best lattes (currently her favorite is Summer Moon). Ms. Hemphill is so excited to be a part of the Conroe family!