When Adrienne Gerst stepped into the choir room at ASD well over a decade ago, she brought with her years of experience and a deep love for choral music. What she didn’t expect was how profoundly the move from small-town Iowa to the heart of Dubai would shape her life, both on and off the podium. Since then, she has grown ASD’s High School choir program to well over 200 students, building a buzzing, student-centered community where voices are nurtured, confidence is built, and excellence is the shared goal.

Adrienne’s love for music began early. Growing up in Minnesota, she earned a coveted spot in the state’s All-State Choir while still in High School, an experience she recalls as a defining moment. “That absolutely was a catalyst for me deciding that I wanted to go into music,” she says. She went on to earn her degree from the globally recognized Luther College in Iowa, where she also studied under world-renowned music educators.

After more than a decade of teaching in Iowa, Adrienne and her husband, Aaron, also an educator at ASD, took a leap of faith. They embarked on a sabbatical in search of new experiences for their two sons and soon found themselves at ASD. It didn’t take long for them to realize they had found something special. “Within the first day of stepping on campus, we knew we were in for the long haul,” Adrienne recalls. The school’s world-class facilities, inspiring colleagues, and forward-thinking culture made it clear: ASD was the right place for their family.

Dubai has also allowed Adrienne to reconnect with her own identity as a performer. A long-standing member of the Dubai Chamber Choir and the Opera House Specialty Chorus, she performs in seasonal concerts and has even had the opportunity to conduct concerts. In 2025, she joined Nabra, a 20-voice ensemble led by internationally acclaimed conductor Rob Johnston. Through these choirs, Adrienne has sung at the Dubai Opera House, performed at Expo 2020 Dubai, and shared the stage with world-renowned artists like A.R. Rahman.
These experiences are more than personal milestones. They enrich her classroom. “Teaching is incredibly fulfilling, but being part of these ensembles also pushes me to grow professionally,” she says. “It helps me connect to my students, many of whom are singing at this level for the first time.” Adrienne brings these real-world musical experiences into the ASD choir room, showing her students what’s possible when individual voices come together as one. “Our entire year of learning is focused on the betterment of the individual voice, which will, in fact, influence the entirety of the group.”

Her approach to teaching is grounded in excellence, one of ASD’s Core Values. She holds high expectations for her High School students, helping them evolve as both vocalists and young adults over four transformative years. “I believe in them, and seeing them succeed - that is so rewarding. The light bulb moment in music is when a child believes in their voice as much as I believe in their voice.”

Adrienne is known for her deep connections with people, valuing relationships and the consistency that comes from hard work. “Anybody who's an international teacher is brave. They've left something behind. And in their bravery, they're willing to try new things,” she reflects. Her students learn not only to sing, but to persevere, collaborate, and pursue excellence - skills that will serve them long after the final note fades.