Every morning, as students and staff walk through the school’s front doors, they are greeted with a warm smile and a cheerful welcome from front office receptionist Leslie Gangwere. While many know her as the friendly face at the front office, few realize that outside of school, she has spent over 25 years behind a microphone singing, DJing, and hosting karaoke nights.
Gangwere’s career began unexpectedly in the late 1990s at a bar owned by a friend’s parents in Ypsilanti. One night, the scheduled DJ didn’t show up, and her friend dared her to step in.
“I thought, ‘I’ll take that dare.’ And then she said, ‘Oh, and it’s karaoke too.’ That’s when I realized what I had gotten myself into,” said Gangwere. “But I quickly learned the mechanics, and soon, I was running the show.”
At first, Gangwere was hesitant to sing in public; she was very new to DJing as well as hosting karaoke.”
“I enjoyed singing, but never publicly,” said Gangwere. “But after I got into karaoke and purchased my own equipment, I quickly learned how to carry a tune and realized how fun it can be.”
What started as a part-time gig soon became a passion. Over the years, she has performed at numerous venues, including the University of Michigan, where she once hosted an event for over 3,000 incoming freshmen.
“It was overwhelming, but a lot of fun, and I knew at that point, I wanted to continue DJing and doing karaoke.” said Gangwere “The actual music and seeing people smile before, during, and after singing, or even getting up and dancing with some of their friends was amazing seeing how much fun it brings to someone. Music is the universal communicator. It brings people together.”
For over 11 years, she was a staple at The Aut Bar in Ann Arbor, where she became well known for her lively performances and ability to create a welcoming atmosphere. Building Services Manager, Bill Twarog, a longtime friend and coworker, remembers those nights.
“Leslie proposed the idea of karaoke to the owners, and at first, it was just a once-a-month event,” said Twarog. “But it became such a hit that it turned into a weekly tradition. She made Tuesday nights something to look forward to.”
Twarog also recalls the joy Gangwere brought along with the fun moments they shared on stage.
“She’d always get me to sing ‘Rainbow Connection’ in a Kermit the Frog voice,” said Twarog. “She brought so much joy to that place.”
Facilities staff Sam Cash, who worked as a waiter at one of Gangwere’s karaoke venues, also remembers her impact.
“She was always doing rock songs, hyping up the crowd, and making sure everyone felt included,” said Cash. “At the end of the night, we’d always do ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as a group, and that was our signal that the night was coming to an end. It was such great energy.”
Though she no longer DJs full-time, Gangwere still holds onto her love for music.
“I had to step away from it when I started working full-time,” said Gangwere. “But if I ever had the chance, I’d go back in a heartbeat. Music is always changing, and I love staying on top of it to bring people joy.”
Gangwere has always loved music and she would want to go back but some challenges come along with doing so.
“You have to be in tune and updated with all the music because there’s so much changing. I quit DJing in 2016, so the amount of music between then and 2025 is a lot. I probably have a total of maybe 12,000 songs just for karaoke which isn’t a lot. My friend that DJs karaoke out in Detroit at various venues, probably has about 600,000 songs, so that’s a big difference.
Being longtime friends when the opening at Greenhills came up, Twarog called her up one day to take the job. Now, her focus is on her work at the front office, where she brings the same energy that made her a DJ.
“I may not be on stage every night anymore, but I still get to connect with people every day,” said Gangwere. Sometimes I wish I could turn back the clock and relive those nights all over again.”
