Northeast senior Tayler finds his rhythm through Rocket music community

March 23, 2026

Northeast High School senior Tayler has adopted the encouraging songs of the show choir’s 2025-26 performance as a theme for his own life story.
 
Tayler has overcome several life obstacles to become a leader in the Northeast community. He is one of only ten Rockets in the a cappella Chamber Singers group, has held key roles in the school’s show choir and is an ambassador in the Tri-M Music Honor Society. He is planning to attend Mitchell Technical College to learn how to fix and maintain large objects like windmills and ocean transport ships.
 
Tayler said strong adult role models have made Northeast a reassuring place to be. That list includes Austin Reinke and Mandy Berlin-Coyle, who have become mentors with their vocal music and school social work expertise.
 
“I know that there’s people here that if I ever need it, even if I’m 27, I bet I could still come back here and there would be people who would be willing to help me if I need help,” Tayler said. “It’s nice to know that there are people like that here. This is a spot where there’s always help.”

 
Reinke has worked with Tayler the past three semesters in multiple choir groups. He has watched Tayler become more confident and outgoing in his role as a lead bass in the ensembles.
 
“Tayler’s been great to have here in the choir room,” Reinke said. “He’s become a real leader for the group and always makes people smile. He’s someone who knows what to do when it comes to the music side of things, and he’s really good about helping other people with everything too.”
 
Northeast Principal Liz Miller said she and other Rockets have noticed the “countless hours in rehearsal” that Tayler has poured into the music program. He and his show choir teammates began learning the music and choreography in the summer, and they continued to work on their techniques throughout the fall semester. Voices ‘N Harmony received several team and individual awards at their competitions this winter.
 
“Tayler has grown in leadership, positively impacting students,” Miller said.

 
Tayler grew up in Lincoln and attended elementary classes at Arnold, Hartley, Elliott and Prescott. He went to Irving Middle School before enrolling at Lincoln High for ninth grade. He began taking courses at Northeast when his family moved to a house on 70th Street after his mother passed away.
 
Berlin-Coyle has been one of Tayler’s biggest supporters at school. She has provided him with information about scholarship and community resource programs, and she has helped him organize materials for life beyond Northeast. Her office has also been a place for Tayler to have many uplifting conversations about the challenging situations in his life.
 
“Those little things add up and prove who you are as a person,” Tayler said.
 
Tayler has also found solace singing with friends in Northeast choirs. The Chamber Singers ensemble features three sopranos, three altos, two tenors and two basses who were selected through an audition process. He represents Northeast music through Tri-M, which is a music club sponsored by the National Association for Music Education. To be eligible for Tri-M membership, students must maintain an A average in all of their music classes and be nominated by a music teacher.
 
Northeast’s show choir production has also been a source of inspiration for him. The storyline follows people who are unsure of what will be coming next in their lives. The main characters discover that they have friends and acquaintances who will support them in every situation.

 
“Throughout the show, you learn that you don’t have to be scared,” Tayler said. “If you’re just yourself, the light will come through and you’ll have other people with you to share that light with and move forward with. It was a pretty good show. A lot of people liked it.”
 
Tayler said he connected with the theme because he has seen firsthand how welcoming the Northeast music community has been for him. His older brother and younger sister both have show choir performances on their resumes, and he has gained many friends during his three years on campus.
 
“There were times when I felt like no one’s listening or no one’s going to help, but all you have to do is literally just ask for help and there are people there who will help you,” Tayler said. “They will help you because you’re their friend or they like being with you.”
 
Reinke said Tayler’s time leading and learning at Northeast has prepared him well for the post-graduation world. He felt Tayler would make a difference in the lives of many people.
 
“I think he’s going to have a really bright future,” Reinke said. “He’s certainly been a leader here for our program, and he’s going to keep being a leader everywhere he’s at. I’m very confident that he’s going to do a lot of good things in the years ahead.”
 
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