Karen Calhoun is the new director of music for Langley United Methodist Church.

Calhoun, who has had a long career in music and spent summers on Whidbey for the past few years, was recently hired by the church following a national search. She replaces longtime director Bill Humphreys, who retired last fall.

“We are delighted to welcome Karen Calhoun to our church,” Pastor Mary Boyd said. “Her extensive experience in both the academic and performance worlds, and her familiarity with Whidbey Island and the Methodist denomination, made her a very strong candidate. I know she will also be a great addition to our community music scene.”

Her first service as music director at Langley’s united Methodist is Sept. 4; choir rehearsals begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Calhoun recently moved to Whidbey Island full-time from Southern California where she was the visual and performing arts coordinator for the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District (Los Angeles County), as well as director of the Norwalk High School Steel Pan Band.

Calhoun has worked in the education field for the past 25 years, and has also served as the director of music for both a United Methodist Church and a Disciples of Christ Church in California.

Calhoun holds an Associate of Arts degree in music from Mt. San Antonio College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education and a Master of Music degree in performance from California State University — Fullerton. She has received several “teacher of the year” and service awards.

Karen was born and raised in Covina, Calif., and was a Long Beach resident for 23 years before the recent move to Whidbey Island.

Her hobbies include world drumming and facilitation, playing and improvising on her Hand Pans and Native American flutes, hiking with her dogs, kayaking, biking, and spending time in her two favorite cities: Lake Arrowhead, Calif. and Seattle.