06/01/2023
I’ve been wanting to share some news but have hesitated because it is so bittersweet. (Long post Alert!) I will share more in a future post about my exciting new adventure. On Wednesday I told my students, families and colleagues at Twin Lakes that I will not be returning in the fall. The Twin Lakes choir “job” is like a family member to me and one I love very much. It is not going to be easy decision to decide to leave. There’s only one thing I love more than teaching at TL and that is my family. My kiddos need me and I miss them. Leaving will be so hard for me but not has hard as looking back and feeling as though I wasn’t able to be there for my little ones.
That being said, I am so proud of what I have experienced with students for the past 18 years. Those early years I survived only because of amazing people in my life who took a newbie under their wing and helped me to chase my crazy dreams. Legends like Susan Wilson Willbanks took me under their wings Seriously , I would have quit teaching long ago it weren’t for tons of time with her especially as a young 21 year old. Susan you are the most selfless and caring human I know and TL and our kids have been changed through countless acts of kindness and compassion. Janet Ollman Dold, Carol Conrad, Kaye Fehrenbacher Gutweinand Teri Roscka must have had a pact to take this new girl straight out of college and give her a family in Monticello. In fact I think they knew I needed it. This job takes a whole village! My predecessors all made that clear to me. This is not a job you can do by yourself. So glad these women cared enough to help me take risks, like taking a trip my first November. 😂😆 but they also were what you would call “refrigerator friends.” Aka the kind of people who care enough and are close enough with you to let you come over and just grab a soda out of the fridge. They love you even with your flaws and they help you chase after your crazy dreams like driving a car and motorcycle on stage! 👀 (Kaye) taking a crazy tip (Teri). My mom missed me horribly and I know for a fact she connected with these amazing women. And after she died many years ago they have been there for me through thick and thin. Additionally so many others have been a huge part of my picture. First and foremost Kevin Sayler. He is “the other half.” Nothing I have ever done for twin Lakes high school would’ve ever been possible without Kevin. He was the one who had confidence in me to start the show choir and he has been the rock behind the scenes from helping us travel as well as being a constant fan. He is even really great at cleaning choreography and talking to students about diction. He brings a passion to everything that he does. I never would’ve felt like I could do what I was doing if he didn’t not only believe in me but get me connected to the world of Indiana show choir. He introduced me to Damon Brown and gave me the nerve to actually call Eric Van Cleave (who I knew was someone I admired from working with him and getting killed by his amazing choirs in high school.) I looked up to Shelley and Kent Johnson because I saw a bit of Kevin and I in them. We’ve always been a team and this “job” has been our first child. We love everything about TL choir from the countless students to the endless little victories. Sure the big accolades were great, but the little things like “flipping the switch” or helping a new kiddo get acclimated were what made TL a love. Having kids open up to the group about immigrating to America or reaching out when they were food insecure to helping people be comfortable just being, those were the moments. And yep it has been hard, very hard! But you fight for what you love. I thought COVID was going to kill our program and seriously 2021 was one of the most amazing shows I’ve ever experienced. Golden Throats has always been a joy for me. I love making us sing “the impossible.” Why not do something miraculous? I think back to those kids singing in 8 part division on the bus. Man! That makes my heart sing. when I hear 5/10/15 years late about favorite songs, it’s Earthsong, Bogo, Jabberwocky, THE CREATION, All too Soon, Tres Cantos! Also, I’m not going to lie, almost nothing makes me more personally proud than a group 1 Gold in sight reading! (I love that these kids can read!) so my happiest teaching moments have been in Voices and Singsations, especially this year! I love including everyone and I feel all choirs should be this way. Next, I must mention my family, they believed in me and even came up to almost every concert. Family of course includes Nancy Sayler and Gene Sayler who so graciously watch the babies for show choir weekends, concert nights and on so many sick days. And more! It’s so important for kids to have many adults in their lives who care about them and we can’t thank you enough. The past six years would be impossible without your support loving our babies as much as we do. Both sets of grandparents and my mom (who is undoubtedly praying for us) love our kids to the moon. Gary and Judy Bassett even came up to help run my invites. Jeanine Seibert thanks for trusting me to start the invite. It would not be happening today without you. Jona Lilly thank you for trusting me with all of your kids, building me costume storage when I had none and hitching your wagon to my star. (Lol) So many families over the years who have helped us and taken us under their wing. The Stevenson’s, Ledbetters, Willbankses, Quarleses Lillys Thompsons, Sieberts, Rosckas, Dolds,Schultheisses, Carsons Harrisons Conrads , Adams, Reiffs, Jordans, Frys, McCrackens, Egolfs, Burnses and SO MANY MORE!!! (Please forgive me if I left you off! I love you.💕) Accompanists and assistants. You are a huge part of our picture. Thank you for playing and for painting this beautiful concert that has lasted half my lifetime. Lucy Dold I owe so much yo you and you changed kids lives for the better. Thank you for being my kid, my friend, my hope and my inspiration. You are truly beautiful. Kelly Hyland Sellers I would not be teaching without you. Crys Bazan you are my rock and why I have been able to teach through having three kiddos. The kids love you and you are an inspiration. You are such a sensitive pianist and a truly skilled accompanist.
Jeffrey Goodspeed you are a true artist and I feel your improv skills and artistry and unmatched. Thank you for the many years! Laura K Lee you are a true friend and you care so much out OUR kids. Thank you for being on my team and for letting me work with your kids. Maternity leaves would have been a disaster without the help from selfless people like Lucy Dold, Erin Elizabeth Ellis, Brad Seward and Rick Russel. You are too kind and you saved my life. We all love you! Damon Brown thanks for trusting this new kid on the block and working with me from the get go. (So glad Kevin knew you from Southmont). Autumn Clark you are an inspirational mom and I look up to you. Thank you for being a rock star. Ashley Chandler Sims and all my Warren friends including Dustin Podgorski for giving me a home away from home the one year I “left my home.” Yall were a great comfort through all of that especially when our dear friend passed away. Alex Hall thank you for working with us even when we were new, young and at times rough around the edges. You choreographed our first competition show with Damon. Endless night will always bring me joy. Finally… Mike Weaver there is nothing better than creating with someone who sees true art in musical styles and genres and isn’t afraid to try something unique. Most of all, you ALWAYS give the art your best. The art deserves it! You made me push past the point of comfortable, you were never content with leaving our group where it was, or me for that matter. You always wanted us to try something new. Build a bigger set create a better character, make slinkies, jazz clubs and hurricanes come to life. Heck, we made “crew sings” a thing! And I see the world differently because of you. You are tops my friend. Thanks Avery too!
Stephanie Lucy Sorley thank you for selflessly giving so much to our treasury over the years. I think you must’ve been our treasurer for at least 10 years and I can’t thank you enough this was long after your children have graduated. Lots of love! Olivia Rita-Catherine Duncan
thank you for flying home to help us work the invitational you are a huge part of what makes this program so deeply connected! I’ve had a lot of administrators over the years but a huge shout out to Missy Whitehead and Desiree Swaim who are incredible. They are so encouraging and so supportive. They see the joy in our program and were willing to support me as my family grew so that I could keep on doing this. Thank you Jennifer LeBeau Miller and Scott Leverenz for graciously brining me back to TL. I felt this was where I needed to be and I am glad it worked out for so long. Thank you to countless other teachers and staff for supporting us. Dorene Dotson Bick you have saved me this year and christine Shaffer you have given so much to this program. Chuck Kubly you are by far one of the most influential people in my life. You helped me so much as a new teacher and you believed in me. I never would’ve come to Twin Lakes if I wouldn’t have met you in that first interview. I felt I could trust you and that I would have a family here in Monticello. You have had an impact on the choir at Twin Lakes by always supporting us and you have made a difference in my life by being my fan and supporter. I am so thankful for all of the band directors that I have worked with, because I never felt like we fought for kids. We always shared them. I’m so thankful that we could value each other’s programs and do what is best for kids. Above all the kids matter most and the music shows that.
Dr. Fletcher I believe you came to every performance of the music department when you were our superintendent. That is amazing! One of the reasons I came to Twin Lakes was because I saw you directing bus traffic as I pulled out from my interview. Selflessness is beautiful.
Most of all I’m so thankful for all of my students, we have made some amazing art together. I wish I could name each and every one of you, but I want you to know that to this day I still look back to pictures as far back as 2005 and I remember your names and I remember your stories and I remember just how much you mean to me. I’ve always said I have the best job in the world and I still do because you will always be my kids and I will always care about you. Thank you for the music I’m so proud of you.
My heart says I need to step away from my huge music family to take care of my three littles under age 6. I need to make them dinner and tuck them in at night. I have been offered the opportunity to teach general music 4/5 at FTCSC in Indianapolis and I am very excited as I very much enjoy teaching elementary general music. In fact, I planned on teaching elementary music when I graduated from IU, until I met Chuck Kubly and I was sold. 🙏🏻(thankfully!)More on that at a later time. It will be a huge life change and I’ll need support and “refrigerator friends” so I hope many of you will still be there with a soda and shoulder. My heart is full and I know no matter where I go my heart will continue to grow. There is a lot of room in there.
Friends not on this post, you mean the world to me. Colleagues and musicy peeps. This job is for you if you want to meet the best kids in the world and make amazing art with people who truly value it. “Thank you for the music, for giving it to me.” Dad and Mom thanks for the music lessons and for all the dance classes. Kevin and my littles, I love you to the moon and back and then to infinity and beyond.
(Photo credit News & Review.) thank you for sharing. 🎶💕
