Almut Engelhardt
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The arts now play a more important role than ever. There is more global pressure to do well in terms of grades, but part of what makes you special is that creative sense—your ideas, your innovative thoughts. This is something we hope to support through the arts at SPA.”
With six generations of educators in her family, Almut Engelhardt swore she’d never end up in the classroom. “You know how when you grow up you know exactly what you want to be—like a race car driver or a soccer player?” she says. “Well, I knew what I didn’t want to be: a teacher.” But sometimes, professional fulfillment is found where you least expect it.
Engelhardt, who is from Germany, played violin the Cologne Symphony Orchestra before moving to Minnesota, where she was soon introduced to St. Paul Academy. Like so many others, was quickly charmed by the close-knit community and its commitment to the arts. She joined the faculty as the Middle and Upper School orchestra and strings teacher in 1991. Today, her two children attend the school, and her passion for teaching is evident. “This is such a cool school!” she says. “I love working with kids who are not just smart, but also intellectually alive.” Each year, Engelhardt lets her students choose most of the music they’ll play (middle schoolers love movie scores, while older students lean toward classical). “Like athletics,” she says, “orchestra has a team spirit—the team together is greater than what you can do on your own.” Together, Engelhardt and her students work toward an understanding of music that goes beyond technical ability.
“The arts,” says Engelhardt, “now play a more important role than ever. There is more global pressure to do well in terms of grades, but part of what makes you special is that creative sense—your ideas, your innovative thoughts. This is something we hope to support through the arts at SPA.” Although she’s now utterly at home in the classroom, Engelhardt can also frequently be found onstage. She performs locally with the Minnesota Opera, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Minnesota Orchestra, and backs up artists including Josh Groban, Prince, the Dixie Chicks, Ray Charles, the “three tenors,” Pavarotti, and more. It’s critical, she says, to practice what you teach.