Choral+Alumni+Interviews

= = Directions: Post your interview with your Choral Alumni below. List your name and Alumnis' name they had in High School and what it currently is (for females). List the years they attended GHS and the years they were in chorus. 

** Interview with Alumni Erica Armstrong **
How many years were you in choir? Only one - I couldn't fit it in my schedule after my freshman year:(  What made you join choir?    I have always loved to sing!!   Did you go on any trips in choir, if yes where?    No   Do you have a choir memory, or story from choir?    Can't remember anything specific...   What did you enjoy most about choir and why?      Love singing, Ms. Jones was a lot of fun!   Did anyone in choir inspire you?    No   What did you gain from being in the Gilbert Choir?    I had a lot of fun, and also learned how to sing with a group rather than just solo.   What choirs were you in?   We only had "the chorus" - no special choirs   Where you involved in choir after High School ? I was involved in "Lander Singers" at college for one year   What did you have to wear as a uniform?    We wore khaki pants and a white shirt I think...   Who was your director and did you like her?    Camille Jones  - she was great!! Did you go to State competition while in choir? No  How many people on average were in choir? Maybe 20 or so?? Was there an All-State while being in the Gilbert Choir, and if yes did you tryout? We didn't have All-State Where there any songs you remember that you liked that best and what types of songs did you sing? = Sorry, can't really remember:(  =
 * By Julia Theiszmann **

**Interview with GHS Choir Alumni Kathy Bewer By: Reba Metts** ** Q: **** How many years were you in choir? **   A: I think that I was in choir for 3-4 years. After we got more into high school, it was harder to arrange our schedules so we could be in choir and get the classes we needed to graduate too. A: It wasn't a large choir. We did mostly popular music--you know, oldies!!!! Well, at that time it was new. Q: ** Did your choir ever take any trips? ** A: We did take a trip in 8th grade (about 1973) to see "Godspell" at Workshop Theater in Columbia. I almost forgot that it was the choir (or chorus) that went. That was the first play I ever saw other than school plays. It's always been one of my favorites. Q: ** What was your director’s name? **  A: The director was Ms. Becky Moss. She was great!!! **Q:Do you remember any of the songs you sang?** A: One of the ones I remember best was "Rock the Boat". Tommy Lee Corbett sang the solo in it. We sang "Beautiful City", from the movie "Godspell"--it wasn"t in the stage version. Let's see... There was "Top of the World", where the second sopranos sang the tenor line--it was REALLY high!!!! There were plenty of others, but I can't think of them right now. I guess those were some of my favorites. Maybe that's why I remember them. A: I have always loved to sing. I've been singing in choirs since I was 6. (I sang in my first choir at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church in West Columbia.) It was a chance for me to sing.  Q: ** What was your choir called? **   A:Our choir or chorus as it was called then didn't really have a name. We did have a girls ensemble. We got to do a few special things. We got to enter a talent competition. Of course, we did have to have a name then. Ms. Moss chose 1950's music for us to do, and we dressed in 1950's skirts and sweaters. We were called the "Sock-Hopettes". We were great!! Q: ** Did your choir have officers? **   A: I think we did have officers but I sure can't remember who. Q: ** How big was your choir? ** A: Remember, Gilbert was a lot smaller then than it is now. We maybe had 50 or 60 chorus members. I think that included 7th grade through 12th grade. A: It's hard to remember anything specific. I know we had a lot of fun, though. Making me think back like this has brought back a lot of memories. I had forgotten about the play that the chorus did. It was called "No! No! A Million Times, No!" It was a classis melodrama about the villian wanting to marry the farmer's daughter or he would take the farm. Robert Hall played the villian. The villian's name was Stafford Blackman. He had a huge painted on mustache! There was the housekeeper named Birdie Seed, a farm boy named Iffy Cann--played by Curtis Mack-- and a farm girl named Emmeline. My favorite line in the play was one that Birdie Seed had. She came out on the porch and was calling Emmy and Iffy. "Emmy!!! Emmeline!!!! Iffy!!! Iffy Cann!!!! Drat them two!!! Where be they!!!!"  I don't remember too much about the music. I can remember bits and pieces of the songs. The chorus members that weren't leads in the play sat on the sides of the stage on bales of hay and sang. We dressed in shorts and tied up shirts with our hair in pigtails. We drew on freckles with eyeliner pencil. After one performance, I was having trouble getting one of the freckles to wash off. Then I realized it was mine!!!! oops! Q: ** Do you have any stories you would like to share? ** A: When we the Sock Hopettes performed in the talent competition, we were all nervous. We had two songs--"Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "At the Hop". We had some motions to do with the songs and some of the girls did a dance during "At the Hop". At the end of the song, we jumped of the risers in front of the stage and ran out the door. I'm still amazed that no one broke an ankle!! Anyway, there were solos and duets and probably some dancing too. It was a schoolwide talent competition. When it came time for the announcing of the winners, we huddled together. When we were announced as the winners, we screamed and jumped up and down! Some of the parents were really upset that we won. They said it wasn't fair that we won because we were "professional"!!!! OK, they were just jealous because their child didn't win.
 * Q: What was choir like when you were in it? **
 * Q:What was your favorite part about choir? **
 * Q: ** ** Do you have any memories of funny things that happened in choir? **

**Gilbert History Interview with GHS Choir Alumni, Nan Rikard By: Taylor Haynes**

Q: __**Who was your choir director?**__ A: //"//Grayson Wright"

Q: __**Do you remember anything about her?**__ A: "She was really really fun but at the same time really really strict!"

Q: __**How long were you in choir at GHS?**__ A: "For some reason I cant quite remember if I was in choir my freshmen year, but I know I was my 10th, 11th, and 12th grade years."

Q: __**How many choirs were there?**__ A: "There were two choirs that were seperate classes but we came together for concerts and such. We used to practice at lunch combined. There were only like 3 boys!"

Q: __**How many people were in choir?**__ A: "40ish no more than 50."

Q: __**What was your favorite thing about choir?**__ A: "My favorite thing about choir was that all of my bestfriends were in that class with me!"

Q: __**Did you have a favorite peice?**__ A: "I cant remember really, there was one piece that had a lot of different kinds of things mixed together."

Q: __**What were your uniforms like?**__ A: "There really werent any that I remember, we sort of wore the same color shirts, or something like that."

Q: __**What do you miss most about choir?**__ A: "Singing in a group, if I dont have a group or a radio to sing with, I dont sing!!"

Q: __**Did you participate in any choral trips?**__ A: "I believe we may have done State Festival. I remember singing at Carowinds, different churches, and going to the elementary school."

Q: __**Were there any choral officers?**__ A: "Yes, I think I was President one year."

Q: __**Did you or any other choir members participate in AllState?**__ A: "Yes, only like three people made it though!!!"

Q: __**What voice part were you?**__ A: "I was an Alto."

Q: __**Did you compete in State Festival?**__ A: "Yes, but i cant remember if we placed or not."

Q: __**Have you stayed in touch with any choir members?**__ A: "Yes, I see them alot because I still live in Gilbert, I run into people all the time."

Q: __**What is one of the funiest moments of your choir years?**__ A: "Haha there was this one time during a Christmas concert where a girl had locked her knees on the risers and she fainted. Me and one of my closest friends just couldnt help but laugh. We were on the back row and trying to hide from Mrs. Wright behind the girls heads in front of us!"

**By: Lauren Yarberough**
 * An Interview with GHS Chorus Alumni Robin (Miller) Smith **

Robin (Miller) Smith was a member of the Gilbert High School Chorus from 1984-1988 under the direction of Mrs. Grayson Wright. Mrs. Smith, a lifelong resident of Gilbert, participated in chorus all four years of high school because she enjoyed singing and performing. She also enjoyed being taught by Mrs. Wright, the “tough” and “talented” director who really worked well with her students. During Mrs. Smith’s years at GHS, the chorus did not have an “official” uniform. Chorus members usually wore white shirts and black pants or dressy clothes. Also, the chorus did not have a choral booster club or hold any fundraisers. Mrs. Smith explained that the chorus did not receive much support from the school or community. Other activities such as sports received more attention. Since many chorus members participated in other school activities, practices were held during chorus classes and at lunch/recess. However, during Mrs. Smith’s four years, the GHS Chorus participated in many events. Some of her favorites were the talent shows, Christmas Concerts, Spring Concerts and GHS Commencement Exercises. Mrs. Smith remembers the chorus singing “Praise Ye the Lord Hosts” and “The Greatest Love of All” at the 1985 Commencement Exercises. The Christmas Concert for 1985 was titled “Home for the Holidays.” In 1986, the chorus hosted the yearly talent show, “This Could be…the Night!”  Mrs. Smith also recalled her role as a waitress in the Spring Concert “Hooray for Hollywood.”  For Mrs. Smith, competing in the Carowinds Music Festival was the highlight of the year. Everything about the trip, except for the chartered bus ride, was great. Completing that year was the chorus’s performance of “From Sea to Shinning Sea” at Commencement Exercises. Mrs. Smith said that in 1987, the chorus was divided into three groups: Chorus I, which consisted of 12 members, Chorus II with 16 members to include herself and a Girls’ Ensemble of six. At the 1987 Spring Choral Concert, the group performed two of Mrs. Smith’s favorite songs: “Somewhere Out There” and “Heartlight.”  In 1988, Mrs. Smith’s senior year, the chorus held its annual concerts and added a performance for the Boiling Springs Methodist Church. During high school, Mrs. Smith’s talents were not limited to singing. She was a member of the Gilbert High School Band Colorguard (1984-1988), a member of the //Gilbertine// staff and a school bus driver. Today, music is still a part of Mrs. Smith’s life. As an active member of Gilbert United Methodist Church, she sings in the choir. Mrs. Smith believes that “the Arts” should be a major part of all school programs and encourages her children to participate. Her daughter, Maggie, is a member of the Gilbert Middle School Orchestra.

Interview with Deann Ritter By: Anne Marie Renalds

1. __**How many years were you in choir at GHS?**__ I was in choir for 3 years.

2. __**How many choirs did GHS have while you were in choir?**__ GHS had 2 choirs.

3. __**Who was your choir director?**__ Mrs. Moore and Ms. Wright.

4. __**How many people (average) were in choir while you participated?**__ Around 50 or so.

5. **__Did you have a favorite piece?__** Ave Maria

6. __**Did you take choir trips while in choir?**__**__If so where?__** No we did not take any trips.

7. __**Did you participate in allstate? If so how many years?**__ I auditioned my senior year.

8. __**What are some of your favorite memories from choir?**__ State competitions are always my favorite memories from choir, and the madrigal.

9. __**What is your funniest memory?**__ Falling out of my chair my senior year in the middle of class!

10. __**Were there choral officers (section leaders) while your were in choir? Were they effective leaders? Did the choir listen to them?**__ Section leader I think was Angela Young. President was Jessica Alberto...the choir listened farily well.

11. __**What did your formal attire look like?**__ Long black dress with pearls and black dress shoes.

12. **Did the choir participate in activites for the community? If so, what were they?** Yes, activites in the Gilbert Park.

13. __**What is the #1 thing you miss about choir?**__ The concerts, I miss singing in a group in general.

14. __**Did your pursue choir later in your life? If so, where?**__ No, but I am thinking about it for next semester at USCA.

15. __**What advice would you give to the GHS choir now?**__ Enjoy chorus while you have it cause after high school you will miss it dearly, it may seem annoying and stupid right now but after it is gone you will miss all the drama and long practices!

16. __**Did you compete in state festival? If so how did GHS choir place?**__ Yes, my first year we got 3rd, 2nd year got 1st, and 3rd year I think 3rd again.

__**Interview with Jonathan Sisson BY: Christina Tedder**__

1. **__What was the main focus for choir?__** The main focus for choir was singing, naturally.

2. **__Did you enjoy choir?__** Yes, especially the trips that we took. We went to Orlando, FL, and NY.

3. **__How many concerts did you have in a typical year?__** Maybe 4-5, not including competitions

4. **__Was the choir well-balanced?__** No, not really. We were really lacking in the male part. We had very few tenors. However, we did have plenty of sopranos., but fewer altos.

5. **__Was the choir competetive?__** Yes very much so. Our main focus was to compete. Against ourselves, working to be the best we could, and also against other choirs.

6.**__How many students were part of the choir?__** There were maybe 60-65 students in the choir.

7. **__What musical areas did the director want you all to focus on?__** All areas, but especially tone quality.

8.**__What types of music did you perform?__** Oh..we performed all different kinds of music. We did classical, modern, rennaissance, etc.

9.**__Who picked out the music?__** The director and the student pianist picked out our musics.

10. **__Why did you take choir?__** I originally took choir to just fill in an extra block that I needed.

11.**__Would you choose to change anything that you did in choir?__** The only thing that I would say that I may change is the assurance that we had more preparation time for performances. It seemed as if we were never prepared before performances.

12.**__Would you recommend others to take choir?__** Yes most definetly. It as an awesome experience, one that you will never forget. Especially if you have a director that puts forth an effort to bring out the talent in each individual.

13.**__Did choir make you feel that you had a purpose or that you were part of something important?__** Yes, especially during competition. We seemed to always come together as one before competition.

14. **__Did you feel that each student worked together to become one choir?__** Not all the time, no. Practices were always questionable; however, each student gave it their all during an actual performance.

15.**__How many years were you in choir before high school?__** I actually was not in choir at all. I was in orchestra, so I did have experience in music.

16. **__As of now are you continuing in any type of music education?__** No I haven't continued in music.


 * __Interview with Angela Young/ By: Hannah Tedder__**

1. **__What years did you attend GHS and what years were you in choir?__** I attended GHS in the years 2004-2007. Those are also the years that I was in choir.

2. __**How many years did you do choir?**__ I did choir throughout all my years at high school.

3. **__Did you enjoy choir?__** Oh, definitely! Choir along with sports were two of my favorite activities.

4. __**Were you ever a part of All-Sate?**__ Yes, I attended All-State twice.

5. __**Did your choir ever go to nationals?**__ No, our choir had only went to state competition.

6. **__What did your choir place at State Festival during the years that you were there?__** In my freshman year we placed third, in my junior year we placed first, and in my senior year we placed third.

7. __**Were you an officer in choir? If so, did you enjoy being an officer?**__ Yes, I was an officer in the alto section in choir. I had a lot of fun being officer and it was a great experience for me.

8. __**What was the total amount of people in your choir?**__ I would say around sixty to seventy people.

9. __**What was the best part about being in choir?**__ I would have to say the trips. I remember going on trips to New York and Florida to compete.

10. __**What types of music did your choir sing?**__ Our music was pretty much all classical composed music.

11. __**How is the choral program different from what it is now?**__ The choir now is a lot smaller than what it used to be. Also, when I was in choir we only had a Concert Choir and Ladies Choir.

12. __**What did you like most about being in choir?**__ The appreciation of all the types of music. There's just so many pieces of music out there, and each piece has a unique way of expressing itself.

13. __**Is there any particular event in choir important to you that you remember?**__ Firstly winning state and also going to All-State.

14. __**How many choral trips did you take?**__ I took a choral trip every year except for my senior year.

15. __**What were the names of the different choirs that you had?**__ Concert Choir, Ladies Choir, and Show Choir.

16. __**What was a choir theme that you remember from one of your concerts?**__ I remember having our Broadway Concert which included pieces like "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Wicked."

17. __**Are you currently majoring in music?**__ No, but I did try out for the Ladies Choir and I made it at the college that I am attending right now. I also tried out for "American Idol" and I am considering trying out for it again.

**Interview with Mrs. Rita Day Former Choir Student** By: Mackenzie Lane

1. **__What years were you in choir?__** Mrs. Rita was in choir all 4 years of being in high school from 1983-1986

2. **__What did you wear while you were in choir?__** She said they made their own dresses. Matching dresses that were huge and T-shirt like with a belt. They were red, with a black belt and black shoes. The males wore white shirts, black pants, black tie and black shoes.

3. **__How many people when you were in choir made All-state?__** She said that she never tried out for All-state and only a limited few made it.

4.**__Did you-all have any officers or a president when you were in choir?__** Mrs. Day said there were in officers or any presidents.

5. **__How many people do you remember being in choir when you were?__** about 25 students were in chours back then

6. **__Did you-all take any national trips? If so, where to?__** no they never took any trips

7. **__Are you still close to any one that you were in choir with?__** Mrs Rita says yes very much so. She's very close with two people and still close with many more from choir.

8. **__What's the one thing you remember most about choir?__** She says falling down the stairs at their end of the year concert and twisting her ankle, and the time when Mrs. Wright their director picked four people to sing a song together and she was one of them she picked to sing.

9. **__After High School did you do anything with music, as in a career in music?__** She said she thought she would but instead didnt go to college. She ended up getting married and moving to Europe and then to California and then to South Carolina later on.

10. **__Did you do choir because you wanted to, or just as a class you thought would be easy?__** Mrs. Day said she knew before she went to high school she would be in the choir and much wanted to be in choir.

11. **__Today, we as a whole chior are like a family, would you say the choir you were in was like a family?__** She said some people were very close, but they weren't a family.

12. **__Do you still know the words to your alma mater?__** She says yes. She also says that todays alma mater isnt as different as the one back then.

13. **__Who was your director?__** Her name was Mrs. Grayson Wright.

14. **__What did they call choir back then? Today we have a Bel Canto, Chorale, and a Concert choir.__** In 9th and 10th grade it was called chorus 1 and in 11th and 12th grade it was called chorus 2.

15. **__What kind of credit did you get when you were in choir for the class?__** She said that when she was in choir they only got one credit each year for choir, they didnt get honors credit like we do today.


 * __ Choral Alumni Interview with Cindy Ackerman/Shealy __**
 * __By: Makaela Shealy__**

While interviewing Ms. Shealy I had so much fun discovering what choir was like almost 31 years ago, and also learning how fortunate we our nowadays to have the opportunities that we have. Ms. Shealy participated in choir from 1973-1978 and loved every minute of it. Her only regret was that she never was brave enough to audition for a solo and that her choir did not have all the advantages that the choirs in Gilbert do now, such as going to festivals, participating in national competitions, and listening to other choirs. When we started talking about how many people were in their choirs, she said that there were about 40-45 people in one choir, and that she believed that the more people there were, the better the sound was. Though there were many directors in her five years of choral experience, Ms. Shealy remembers two in particular. Mrs. Moss and Mrs. Isdell were the most influential in her opinion and she enjoyed the way that they taught their choir. The directors prepared them for concerts and plays by having them practice where they were going to perform, kind of like how my director has us prepare for our concerts by singing in our theatre on the same risers that we will perform on during the concert. Ms. Shealy says that she participated in two choirs, one being the regular chorus and also a women’s ensemble that consisted of eight women. She loved being a part of the women’s ensemble so much that she continued it in her sophomore, junior, and senior years in high school. The music that they did was often off of Broadway musicals such as “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Godspell.” As far as formal wear for concerts were concerned, they were not required to wear any kind of uniform, but the girls had to wear dresses and the men were required to wear a suit and tie. The school encouraged choir as well as the other music classes like band and orchestra because one year of a music class was required for all students. Although their choirs did not attend any competitions, Ms. Shealy was thrilled to be a part of the choir and was so thankful that she had the chance to make her high school experience more enjoyable by participating in choir. She was also involved in the drama club, so she especially enjoyed when the choir put on a play called, Sadie Hawkins Day in which they played hillbilly’s and preformed the songs with plenty of comedy. They even wore overalls, cutoff jeans, bandannas, and sat on bales of hay while they sang! Ms. Shealy said that this was definitely the most exciting thing that her choir did and that the audience would have agreed. Ms. Shealy said that one of her most memorable experiences in choir was when they did a popular song called "Rock the Boat," and the soloist was Tommy Lee Corbett. The rest of the choir sang back-up and did motions that went along with the song as well as trying to keep a straight face while they watched Tommy really get into his solo. Ms. Shealy said that this man could "flat out sing" and was so talented and made the song very enjoyable for the audience every time that he performed. During her years in choir Ms. Shealy said that there were no choral officers and that the only person who assisted the director was the pianist who only came for concerts. They also preformed in Christmas concerts but they did not go out into the community for many events. All in all Ms. Cindy Shealy loved choir the most out of all the classes she took in high school.

Special thanks to Ms. Cindy Ackerman/Shealy for her time and information about her time in choir. I am so thankful that she was able to give me insight into the choir that has now grown into the Chorale, Belcanto, and Concert Honors Choirs of GHS

**__ An Interview with former Gilbert Choir student, Bailey Slice __**
 * By: Sara Walden Hanna **

1. **__During what years were you in the choir at__ __Gilbert__ __High School____?__** Bailey has a deep love of singing, which is probably why she was in choir all four years of high school, from 1996-2000.

2. **__Which choir(s) were you in?__** Bailey was in the chamber choir, concert choir, and show choir while in high school.

3. **__Did the choir(s) place at state festival or win any superior ratings?__** At state, Bailey’s choir almost always received superior ratings! Bailey also enjoyed getting to hear the other choirs and spending time with her own.

4. **__Did you participate in the All-State Choir?__** Bailey participated in the All-State Choir for three years: the woman’s choir one year and the SATB for two years. She even placed in the top ten in the state!

5. **__Were the choirs able to take a trip and go to a national competition?__** The choirs took many trips back when Bailey was in school to compete nationally. They went to Washington D.C., New York, Florida, and even sang and competed on a cruise ship! The competition on the cruise ship was definately Bailey's favorite trip and one of her most memorable and fun times in the high school choir!

6. **__Were the choirs, during the time you were in high school, still Bel Canto, Chorale, and Concert Choir?__** The choirs were much different several years ago. There was no ladies’ choir; however, the more demanding (honors) classes were chamber and concert choir, which consisted of a small number of people, while the chorus had a very large number of people.

7. **__Were you in any other musical classes (piano, band, etc.) here at Gilbert?__** Bailey was also in band in high school and confesses that she was always more of a band kid, however she has always loved to sing.

8. **__How did being in choir in high school affect your career as an adult?__** Bailey has always been a music-lover and chose to lead a career in that field and major in music in college.

9. **__What events did you sing at while in choir (ex: Veteran’s day programs, local business meetings, etc.)?__** Bailey remembers the choirs singing and performing at many churches, but not any other programs besides concerts.

10. **__Who was the choral director while you were in high school?__** Rachael Moore was the choral director while Bailey was in high school and was loved by her students.

11. **__Do you keep in touch with any of your choral friends as an adult?__** Bailey regretfully admits that she doesn’t really keep in touch with her friends from high school, however, she is friends with many of them on Facebook.

12. **__Can you remember any specific stories of an event that happened in the choir while you were in it?__** Bailey specifically remembers when the choir was coming home from a trip and was passing through Virginia, when her director passed out and had to go to the hospital. It turns out that Bailey’s director had a heart condition and had a portion of a cow's heart put in to replace part of her own. Bailey claims that she will never forget this and remembers her classmates laughing about their director’s “cow-heart”.

13. __**What did you end up doing after you graduated high school?**__ After high school, Bailey went on to Furman University to get her Bachelor’s degree in music, where there was a very good music program. She received her Master’s of Music Performance from USC in 2006. Bailey currently is the music director at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and absolutely loves it! She didn’t plan on getting the job, but it somehow fell into her hands. Being a music director is a fun and challenging job, according to Bailey.

14. **__Do you have any old pictures from when you were in choir?__** Bailey did have some old pictures that she let me borrow from her days in the GHS choir. The picture below is one of the show choir on a trip. Bailey is on the far left in her show choir dress.

15. **__What did your choral dresses look like?__** “The old choir uniforms actually looked nice, for choir dresses,” Bailey remembers. They consisted of a silk bottom, velvet material for the bodice, and a “sweetheart top”. The Show Choir’s dresses, on the other hand, were not as beloved, however they did look bright like show choir dresses should. These dresses were red and black with red sequins, and long black sleeves.

__**Interview with Hallie Hite by Leigha Hite**__ 1. __**What were the years you attended choir?**__ I attended choir in 2000-2003.

2. __**Who was your chorus teacher?**__ My chorus teacher was Mrs. Moore.

3. **__Did your choir have choral officers?__** Yes, we had a president and a vice president. We also had section leaders that would lead each section in the choir.

4. __**Did your chorus class ever take any high school chorus trips?**__ Yes, we took a choir trip every year.

5. **__How many people were in choir with you?__** We had a lot of people in our choir. We probably had around 100 students.

6. __**Do you keep in contact with any of your choral classmates?**__ No, I have not.

7. **__Did you enjoy choir?__** Yes! I enjoyed it. Whenever I would have a bad day and I came to choir, I knew my day would get much better.

8. __**What were all the classes that the choral department provided?**__ They had a Concert choir, Ladies choir and a Show choir.

9. __**What was your favorite thing about choir the years you were in it?**__ My favorite thing was how much fun we all had singing together and enjoying what we had performed for people.

10. __**What experience did you get out of choir all the years you attended?**__ I learned how to carry a tune in a bucket.

1. __**What years were you in the choir?**__ From 8th grade to 12th grade (1980-1984) 2. **__Who was the director?__** Grayson Wright (now Sarvis) 3. **__Did the students have a friendly relationship with the director?__** Absolutely 4. **__What types of music did you perform?__** Sacred and secular- all kinds 5. **__What did the room look like?__** It was a portable. She kept both doors open a lot so that the wind blew through all the time. I loved that; plus everybody could hear us sing. 6. **__Did the choir wear uniforms?__** If so what did they look like? No, we did not wear uniforms, but we all did wear black for concert performances. 7. **__Did the choir compete in any competitions?__** If so which ones? No 8. __**Could students participate in Allstate?**__ Did you ever participate? Yes and yes, I made it every year J 9. **__What inspired you to join the choir?__** I love to sing; I love to perform; love to play piano- I just love music. It makes me feel good. 10. **__What voice part were you?__** I’ve always been an alto but I’ve sang every part (including guys). A lot of times she needed me to help others with their part. 11. **__Did the students receive different awards at the end of the year?__** Yes 12. **__Where did most of the concerts take place?__** In the old Gilbert auditorium 13. **__Was there an “Arts in the Park”? Gilbert Carol lighting?__** No and no (I’m really old). 14. **__Did the choir perform at football games? Home coming? Graduation?__** Yes, yes and yes. We also performed for pageants and talent shows and sometimes for 5th Sunday church services. 15. **__Have you stayed in contact with some of your fellow choir classmates?__** A few of them and most are still singing.
 * Interview With Former Gilbert High School Choral Alumni, Suzanne Reeder. By. Maddie Berkheimer**

By: Rachel Hancock
 * __ GHS CHORUS INTERVIEW WITH FORMER CHORUS STUDENT, JODEE MACIASZEK __**

1. **__ What made you want to join chorus? __** Well, i didn't want to do band anymore and had to have a music class.

2. **__ What types of songs did you sing? __** We sang foreign language songs, religious songs, and seasonal songs.

3. **__ What type of clothes did you wear for concerts? __** We wore black dresses and black shoes. But for one concert we wore black pants, a white top, and a red belt thing around our waists.

4. **__ Did you have section leaders? __** Yes, i can only remember the alto one since i was an alto. It was Laura Woosley.

5. **__ What is the best memory in the chorus? __** The best memory for me would be the trip to Florida for our competition.

6. **__ Do you do anything today, that if you didn't take chorus you wouldn't be able to do? __** I wouldn't have confidence singing in front of my kids at school.

7. **__ Who was your director? __** Rachel Moore

8. **__ What do you remember most about her? __** Her position behind the piano, and she could cluck like a chicken. She won the Chicken Call contest at the Poultry Festival

9. **__ How close was the chorus members? __** Sections were pretty close, but i didn't really know anybody else.

10. **__ What types of competitions did you do? __** We did one local competition, and then one in Florida.

By: Makayla Keisler A: I was in Gilbert High School Choir during the 1979-1980 school year.
 * __ My Interview with Former GHS Choir Member, Terry Keisler __**
 * 1. Q: __What year did you participate in the Gilbert Choir?__ **

I was in the Tenor section.
 * 2. Q: __What part did you sing?__ **

A: I would probably have to say. . . Grease. It was a fun song to sing.
 * 3. Q: __Did you have a favorite song?__ **

A: Definitely the Christmas Concert. We all had a blast!
 * 4. Q: __Do you have any fun memories in the choir?__ **

A: My choir teacher was Mrs. Wright. (Mrs. Sarvis now)
 * 5. Q: __Who was your director?__ **

A: I was only in it for one year, but I did enjoy it very much.
 * 6. Q: __Did you enjoy your years in the Gilbert choir?__ **

A: Yes- but choir is much larger now than when I was in school so the teaching is more in depth now.
 * 7. Q: __Did you learn alot about music in choir?__ **

A: No.
 * 8. Q: __Does your career involve singing?__ **

A: I'm sure there were plenty but unfortunately I don't remember them.
 * 9. Q: __Were there any embarrassing moments when you were in choir?__ **

A: I would tell them to enjoy it while they're there, make the best out of it, and have fun!
 * 10. Q: __What advise would you give the Gilbert Choral students today?__ **

Interview by Reba Metts with Kathy Brewer

** 1. **** How many years were you in choir? **  ** I think that I was in choir for 3-4 years. After we got more into high school, it was harder to arrange our schedules so we could be in choir and get the classes we needed to graduate too. **
 * 2. **** What was choir like when you were in it? **

** 3. **** Did your choir ever take any trips? **
 * It wasn't a large choir. We did mostly popular music--you know, oldies!!!! Well, at that time it was new. : - ) **

** 4. **** What was your director’s name? **  ** The director was Ms. Becky Moss. She was great!!! ** ** 5. **** Do you remember any of the songs you sang? **  ** One of the ones I remember best was "Rock the Boat". Tommy Lee Corbett sang the solo in it. We sang "Beautiful City", from the movie "Godspell"--it wasn"t in the stage version. Let's see... There was "Top of the World", where the second sopranos sang the tenor line--it was REALLY high!!!! There were plenty of others, but I can't think of them right now. I guess those were some of my favorites. Maybe that's why I remember them. ** ** 6. **  ** What was your favorite part about choir? **
 * We did take a trip in 8th grade (about 1973) to see "Godspell" at Workshop Theater in Columbia. I almost forgot that it was the choir (or chorus) that went. That was the first play I ever saw other than school plays. It's always been one of my favorites. **

** 7. **** What was your choir called? **  ** 8. **** Did your choir have officers? **
 * I have always loved to sing. I've been singing in choirs since I was 6. (I sang in my first choir at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church in West Columbia.) It was a chance for me to sing. **
 * Our choir or chorus as it was called then didn't really have a name. We did have a girls ensemble. We got to do a few special things. We got to enter a talent competition. Of course, we did have to have a name then. Ms. Moss chose 1950's music for us to do, and we dressed in 1950's skirts and sweaters. We were called the "Sock-Hopet tes". We were great!! **

** 9. **** How big was your choir? **
 * I think we did have officers but I sure can't remember who. **

** Remember, Gilbert was a lot smaller then than it is=2 0now. We maybe had 50 or 60 chorus members. I think that included 7th grade through 12th grade. ** ** 10. **** Do you have any memories of funny things that happened in choir? **  ** It's hard to remember anything specific. I know we had a lot of fun, though. Making me think back like this has brought back a lot of memories. I had forgotten about the play that the chorus did. It was called "No! No! A Million Times, No!" It was a classis melodrama about the villian wanting to marry the farmer's daughter or he would take the farm. Robert Hall played the villian. The villian's name was Stafford Blackman. He had a huge painted on mustache! There was the housekeeper named Birdie Seed, a farm boy named Iffy Cann--played by Curtis Mack-- and a farm girl named Emmeline. My favorite line in the play was one that Birdie Seed had. She came out on the porch and was calling Emmy and Iffy. "Emmy!!! Emmeline!!!! Iffy!!! Iffy Cann!!!! Drat them two!!! Where be they!!!!" ** ** 11. **** Do you have any stories you would like to share? **
 * I don't remember too much about the music. I can remember bits and pieces of the songs. The chorus members that weren't leads in the play sat on the sides of the stage on bales of hay and sang. We dressed in shorts and tied up shirts with our hair in pigtails. We drew on freckles with eyeliner pencil. After one performance, I was having trouble getting one of the freckles to wash off. Then I realized it was mine!!!! oops! **


 * When we the Sock Hopettes performed in the talent competition, we were all nervous. We had two songs--"Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "At the Hop". We had some motions to do with the songs and some of the girls did a dance during "At the Hop". At the end of the song, we jumped of the risers in front of the stage and ran out the door. I'm still amazed that no one broke an ankle!! Anyway, there were solos and duets and probably some dancing too. It was a schoolwide talent competition. When it came time for the announcing of the winners, we huddled together. When we were announced as the winners, we screamed and jumped up and down! Some of the parents were really upset that we won. They said it wasn't fair that we won because we were "professional"!!!! OK, they were just jealous because their child didn't win. **