Music and Family

 What's up chat, we are back! For this blog, Dr. KV asked us to interview someone that we considered family (at least one generation older than us) about the music that they listened to growing up. For my entry, I chose my middle and high school choir teacher, Sarah! We met when I was 10 and she's been a huge part of my life ever since then. She's the reason I started doing theatre full and time and the person who encouraged me to pursue performance professionally. Her and her husband, David, are basically like my second parents. They drove me to rehearsals and auditions before I could do so myself, helped me prepare, and bought me wayyy too much Sheetz afterwards. Here's some of the questions I asked her and her responses :)

- How would you define music?

There are many ways you could define music. One generic definition is that music is the art of organizing sound and silence in time to create meaning, expression, or aesthetic experiences. To me, it’s that and so much more. It’s emotional and spiritual – sounds shaped to help us communicate emotions that words simply cannot express and can also evoke spiritual awareness.

- What's your earliest memory of music?

One of my earliest memories of music comes from visiting my mother’s parents and spending time at their local park, Tuscora Park. The park felt like a small county fair, complete with a Ferris wheel, swings, a gentle kiddie roller coaster, a small train, and a beautiful carousel. Riding the carousel was a must every time we visited—we could never ride it just once, but always at least twice: once when we arrived and again before leaving. The carousel itself is one of the few remaining all-wooden carousels, featuring 36 hand-carved jumping horses, two chariots, and 14 original oil paintings. Its music is provided by a Wurlitzer-style 153-band organ. I remember being very young, sitting on one of the horses while my dad stood beside me, steadying me as it rose and fell. The music was so beautiful, and it made the experience feel truly magical. My sister and I loved that carousel and its music deeply. It meant so much to our family that we were even able to get a CD of the carousel’s music -- a keepsake I still treasure today.

- What's your favorite memory of music?

It’s difficult to pinpoint just one favorite musical memory, as there are many that stand out. However, one of the most meaningful was winning my alma mater’s biennial concerto competition, which led to the opportunity to perform with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. A friend of mine and I prepared the duet “Dôme épais le jasmin” from Delibes’s opera Lakmé, and our performance earned us the privilege of singing with the WVSO at a special concert. From the rehearsal process to the final performance, it was an incredibly rewarding experience to collaborate with such talented and inspiring professional musicians.

- What's your favorite music genre now? Is it different from when you were younger?

I listen to a lot of different genres from bluegrass to musical theater, but if I had to choose, I would say my current favorite is a blend of indie folk and alternative. This is very different from when I was younger. I was very much a pop lover – I listened to N*SYNC, Backstreet Boys, Brittany Spears, Christina Aguilera, and P!NK mostly as a child. And while I still like to revisit my mid-late 90’s music, I prefer the calmer, acoustic, chill vibe indie folk and alternative.

- What role does music play in your life now? What role did it play when you were younger?

Music is an outlet for me, but it’s also my job. I am a choir director at a high school. When I was younger, it was an outlet and tool for expression. I sang all the time. My mother told me when I was older that I would start humming and singing as soon as I would get up in the mornings as a young child. I don’t start singing once my eyes open in the mornings anymore, but my current and younger self still see music as an outlet and expressive tool. It’s a passion and a part of me.

- Did you play an instrument? What kind? Are you self-taught? Did you like it? Why?

When I was younger, I took piano lessons until my teacher had to retire. I also played the trumpet and French horn in middle and high school and continued to play the horn in college on occasion. I also took guitar lessons for a while in my preteen years. French horn was mostly self-taught, but I had the basics of embouchure from learning to play the trumpet. I think I liked playing the horn the most because it was most challenging. It’s such a beautiful instrument and it was fun learning to play.

- Did you sing in a choir? At church? At school? What was that like?

I did sing in a choir. I joined choir when I got to high school and sang in a youth choir for my church for special holidays. Of course, when I got to college I was in a couple different choirs: concert choir, chamber choir, and chapel choir. Singing in a choir is one of my favorite things to do. I love creating emotional, musical experiences for communities. Being in those different choirs in college was so rewarding. I’ve also participated in a community Christmas choir over the past few years which has been loads of fun. (I sang in that choir too! :))

- Do you and David have a special song?

We do have a special song – Tonight by JJ Heller. It’s the song we danced to at our wedding.

As I am a good interviewer, I thanked her for her time (she owes me though so really she should thank me) and we talked for a bit afterwards and then I said bye bye!!!!! I enjoyed learning more about someone so important to me and getting a glimpse into her life before her biggest blessing (me). But that's all, see you soon!