About Us

Laura Lorentzen & Danielle Solan

We have worked together for the past ten years, and we are passionate about collaborating to make our music program a special part of the Lower Primary experience. Together, we have published articles in Activate! magazine and The Orff Echo, and we are active clinicians offering professional development workshops to music teachers in the Hong Kong area.

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My name is Danielle Solan and I teach music at HKIS Lower Primary. Teaching music is my passion and I love making music with my young students. I believe that all children are natural born musicians. Children are born with hearts that want to sing, hands that want to drum, bodies that want to dance, and brains that want to learn! Music is a vital bonding experience for our community of learners.

Fifteen years ago, I got my start as a music educator by working in extracurricular programs in Ecuador, Japan and Panamá. Prior to working at HKIS, I taught music at a public elementary school in Austin, TX and I directed the youth choir at the First United Universalist Church of Austin.

I earned my Bachelor’s degree from Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, and my Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. I am a Songworks certified educator with Specialization in Music Literacy for Children, and I have completed my Level 1 study of the Orff Schulwerk Approach.

For fun, I enjoy dancing, playing piano, thinking up stories, trekking in Nepal, cooking, and spending time my wonderful husband, Rob and my daughter, Nova. I am looking forward to making music with your children this year!

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My name is Laura Lorentzen and I teach music at HKIS Lower Primary. Teaching music is the best job! Music is such an important part of the experience at Lower Primary. Group singing enhances our community gatherings and creates a sense of belonging to something greater. Music-making  and performing teaches our students the values of collaboration, creativity, and resilience. Our students enjoy singing, playing, moving, and creating together. And having a good time!

Because I had a passion for music from a young age, I found myself drawn to teaching young students to love music as well. I received my music education degree from Valparaiso University in Northwest Indiana. I have completed Level III of my Orff certification and taken many professional development workshops with teachers around the world.

In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my husband Adam and being a mom to our little boy Atticus, born in May 2018 and our daughter Ellie, born in Jan 2020.

The 2021-2022 school year will be my tenth year of teaching in Hong Kong. Let’s have another great year!