If students ever walked past the choir room at Cape Coral High, they have probably heard music pouring out, laughter, harmonies, and Lisa Hamman’s cheerful voice guided it all. Cape High’s choir teacher, Hamman, isn’t just passionate about music; she’s lived it her whole life.
Growing up, Hamman dreamed of being a singer. Her childhood bedroom was The Little Mermaid themed which makes sense, considering one of her biggest inspirations was Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel. She also looked up to Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth, known for playing Glinda in Wicked. “I always wanted to be like them,” Hamman expressed.
Her first job in music came while she was still a student at Florida Gulf Coast University. “I got a job at Faith Presbyterian Church as their temporary choir director. That’s where I learned how to work with beginner singers and really be patient,” Hamman explained.
Those lessons came in handy at the start of her career at Cape Coral High, where not every student has a performing arts background. Hamman furthered this when stating “You have to break things down into smaller steps. Not everyone has sung before and that’s okay.”
Teaching, she admits, can be both challenging and rewarding. “You have to learn how to explain things for different learning styles,” she said. “And it’s not just about singing — it’s about helping people become more confident and kind.”
Kindness is something Hamman values deeply. Having dealt with bullying growing up, she works hard to make her classroom a place where everyone feels accepted. Hamman stated “I’m really passionate about people being kind to each other and treating everyone with respect.”
Before teaching, Hamman built an impressive performance career. She’s sung at Carnegie Hall, in Las Vegas, at the Daytona International Speedway, and even for millionaires at the Naples Winter Wine Festival. One of her favorite, and memorable moments was performing the theme song for the Make-A-Wish Foundation at their Wishmaker’s Ball.
However, Hamman’s path hasn’t always been easy. While studying at Florida State University, she was diagnosed with leukemia. After three years of chemotherapy, she recovered and has now been cancer-free for eight years.
Hamman expressed that “It made me realize how precious life is. That’s when I decided to focus on something meaningful, helping others through teaching.”
Cape High’s choir director’s goal is to grow the program, and inspire more students to join. “I’d love to have 30 or even 50 students in a choir someday,” she said. Yet what she loves most isn’t the numbers, it’s the people. Hamman is elated to “Meet more young artists and help them feel comfortable in their craft. Seeing students enjoy what they do and improve, that’s the best part.”
Hamman’s impact is clear through the students’ overall experience with her. Junior, Marin Sammons shared, “My favorite thing about Hamman is how she connected with me and treated me like a person rather than just a student”
Even her newer students share the same thoughts. Nayvet Rodriguez, a Cape Coral High School Sophomore says that she “absolutely loves the community and class with being able to connect with people.”
Former student Gianna Treglia, a Cape Coral High graduate, echoed that sentiment, crediting Hamman with helping her discover her passion. “I’m currently enrolled at FGCU and performing with the Bel Canto Choir, and I plan to pursue a degree in Music Education! I owe so much to Ms.
Hamman, who believed in me even when I doubted myself. She encouraged me to go for All-County, All-State, Solo & Ensemble, and even perform with our jazz band, and I succeeded at all of it!”
Treglia shows more appreciation when stating “I’m so grateful for her support and for everything the choir has given me, I love Ms. Hamman so incredibly much. I wouldn’t be half the person I am today without her help. I hope in college and infinitely on, I make her proud and she knows that it’s all thanks to her.”
Whether she’s conducting at rehearsal, or cheering her students on at MPA Hamman’s passion shines bright through her actions. For Hamman, teaching isn’t just about music. It’s about sharing her love of art, resilience, and kindness, and making sure every student finds their own song to sing.
