At its meeting on April 23, the Bethlehem Central Board of Education appointed Christopher Jantson as the new K-12 Music Supervisor for the district, effective July 1. Jantson will oversee music education, curriculum, and programs across all seven schools, succeeding longtime music supervisor David Norman, who is retiring at the end of the school year.
With 30 years of experience in teaching and music leadership, Jantson currently serves as the Fine Arts Department Chairperson (Music & Art) at the Voorheesville Central School District. There, he teaches high school Band and Music Theory, and provides instrumental lessons to both high school and elementary students. He has been with Voorheesville since 1995 and has held the department chair position since 2006.
Jantson holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Ithaca College and a master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He also possesses a School District Administrator (SDA) certificate.
A 25-year resident of Bethlehem, Jantson has a deep connection to the community, where music and music education are integral to his family life. He plays the trumpet with several groups across the Capital Region. His wife, Michelle, teaches music in the Guilderland Central School District. Their daughter, Catherine, is a first-year music teacher in the Niskayuna schools, and their son, Daniel, is studying Music Recording and Technology at the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford. Catherine and Daniel are both graduates of BC, while their youngest son, Michael, is a sophomore who is actively involved in the music program at BCHS.
“I have witnessed firsthand the excellent education Bethlehem provides for its students,” said Jantson. “I have observed as a parent the profound impact that the Bethlehem music teachers have had on my own children and so many other students at every age level.”
Jantson said he is excited by the opportunity to work with the music community in his new professional role at BC.
“I’m excited to join the BCSD team and begin working to support and continue to grow the district’s music program,” said Jantson. “Building relationships with teachers, school administrators, students, parents, and the entire Bethlehem community is what I look forward to most.”