Let’s start with what got you into music as a whole. Was it a childhood inspiration? High school or college courses?
My mother liked telling people that I sang before I talked. I’m guessing it was just “cooing,” but I love that she thought it was a song. I came from a musical family. My grandfather was a teacher of Southern Sacred Harp music. My whole family went to “singings” all my life, so I learned early to sing the songs. When I was 6 years old, my father stood me up on a table and I directed my first “choir” as they sang my favorite song, The Golden Harp.
I sang all my life in my church, Brooks Chapel, and when I was around 10, I got a group of kids from the church together, taught them a song, and directed them in a church service. I really liked it, so I just kept doing it. There was someone special in my life that secured a piano for me, paid for my piano lessons and later on, my voice lessons. “Miss Sarah” was a special person and set me on my path. Music has always been an important part of my life.
What was your career like before the Children’s Chorus of Collin County?
I taught public school music in Dallas for five years and loved it.
My family were members of the choir at Park Cities Baptist Church and one summer, I helped out in the office. I liked it so much that I decided to stay. I served as associate minister of worship and music at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas for 30 years.
After I retired, I missed having a choir to direct, so my friend Russ Porter and I started another one and called it The Children’s Chorus of Collin County. One of the best decisions of my life.
You’ve been running the children’s chorus for two decades now. What have you learned over time? How has the choir changed?
I’ve learned that music is something that every person needs in their life. It expresses all kinds of feelings. It can offer such joy – the words, that special beauty of that last chord. It can soothe you on a sad day, and make you laugh on a happy day. It can challenge you to do something difficult, and surprise you with how much you love it. Music is truly a universal language. It makes no distinction between those that make the music. It is all-inclusive. A challenged child can sing just as beautifully as the child that excels at everything. The children and the music may change, but singing and joy remain the same.
What is your proudest accomplishment or moment with the choir/students?
Every weekly rehearsal is full of joy and gratitude. All those beautiful young voices singing together in unison or in harmony is a wonderful thing. The Chorus has been invited to perform in several outstanding venues, such as England’s Canterbury Cathedral and New York’s Carnegie Hall.
My proudest moment was when The Chorus was invited to present a stand-alone concert in Carnegie Hall with The Children’s Chorus of Collin County. We performed there four times through the years, participating in mass choir productions, but it was very special to be invited to perform a solo concert on their own in this prestigious performance center. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, the singers and the families. The performance was wonderful in every way.
Is there anything that you want those who are unfamiliar to know about yourself or The Chorus?
I love children. I love teaching, mentoring, directing and making music with them. I love the concerts and love seeing them shine. I love keeping up with them after they graduate and move away. I love that so many of them still have music in their lives as a part of who they are. Some of my former students have been on Broadway and other prestigious theater groups. Some are songwriters and performers, music teachers and choir directors. One of my early Chorus members sings with the Singing Men of Texas. Many of them are all grown up with children of their own. My plan is to stay at least until one of those children joins my Chorus!
Music has been a big part of my life, and I am very grateful for the experiences it has brought. I have had the privilege of conducting seminars and workshops for choirs and choir leaders throughout the United States and have also directed choirs in England, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Hawaii, Nassau and Canada.
I have also enjoyed a career in singing, speaking, writing and teaching. I am a published author and composer and continue to speak and entertain for women’s groups, retreats and conventions.
Outside of conducting, I am best known for my “Hat Shows,” which consist of a musical presentation on the history of hats. This includes hats from my acquired collection of over 100 hats, with songs that represent each period of their popularity.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.