Four high school seniors who have spent formative years developing musical skills and lifelong friendships as members of the Cathedral Choir School of Delaware were set to graduate in the spring of 2010 and head off to college.
“The choir has been a big part of my life,’’ says Keyanna Mozie, 18. “It has really shaped my outlook on the possibilities I have.”
The seniors agree they’ve gained immeasurably from their choir school experiences, but Dr. Darryl Roland, Choir Director, says they have also given back.
“Our younger students very much rely on the vocal leadership of the more advanced students,’’ he says. Children who start in the choir at the age of 7 or 8 go through an “incubation period’’ of two or three years, during which they are learning and developing skills, but not singing much, he says. “Then at a certain point, their skills are such that they are contributing significantly to the choral ensembles and they develop into leadership voices.’’
At that level, it’s important to the program that the students remain with it as they continue to improve their skills. Most of the high school choristers are accepted into all-state choirs or select choirs in their schools. “Their training here helps in their day school opportunities but by staying in the program here they have the opportunity to give back to the younger people as well as to the choir school as a whole,’’ Dr. Roland says. He and everyone at the Cathedral Choir School of Delaware proudly congratulates these high school graduates.
by Anita Manning
Monica Drummond, 17Monica has been in the choir since she was in the sixth grade. She attends the Charter School of Wilmington, and has been accepted with a full scholarship to Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA, where she plans to major in equestrian studies and English. She is considering a law career. “The choir has made me a more well-rounded person,’’ she says. “It has made me more social and allowed me to take up more of a leadership role. It has helped me mature, along with helping my vocal skills.’’ Monica, who has volunteered to help file music in folders on Friday afternoons for three or four years, studied piano through the choir school, then moved on to playing trumpet and French horn. Through her choir school experience, she says she has learned to appreciate all types of music.
Keyanna Mozie, 18Keyanna has been in the choir since she was in fifth grade. She will graduate from Sanford School. Though she’s not sure yet where she’ll attend college in the fall, she has set her sights on becoming a broadcast journalist and political analyst, and plans to study international relations and political science. In the choir school, she says, “I’ve met so many friends I’ll be friends with forever, and from Dr. Roland, I’ve learned so much, not only about the music, but about people and presenting myself a certain way. “I really like to travel and it was really cool to go to England and to the White House. I got to accept the (Coming Up Taller) award (from First Lady Laura Bush) on behalf of the choir. It has really shaped my outlook on the possibilities I have. It gave me a lot of experience – I wrote a lot about the choir when applying to college.’’
Angel Walker, 18Angel was in the choir for about 10 years, and still attends weekly services at the Cathedral Church of St. John. A senior at Mount Pleasant, he has been accepted into Lebanon Valley College, his first-choice school, and hopes to become a middleschool mathematics teacher. “Choir helped me maintain focus on the bigger picture in life and helped me stay off the streets and put my mind into everything I do,’’ Angel says. “What I learned in choir was how to be an individual and depend on myself more and (to know) that I am not always going to have help with everything I do.’’Angel says his goal in life is to be “wealthy and healthy and to help others get to where they need to go.’’
Sheridan Williamson, 18Sheridan has been in the choir school for eight years. She is senior director of the Mount Pleasant High School chorus, vice president of her school Choral Association, won second place in a mock trial competition, and was a member of the All-State Junior and Senior Choruses. She’s applying to colleges and hopes to major in music and ultimately “to teach music and fine-tune voices – after traveling the world, of course!’’
“Choir at the Cathedral is my #1 extra-curricular activity,’’ she says. “I am where I am today - wanting to be a music major in college next year - because of choir. Music is a huge part of my life so much that without it, I don’t know what I would do. Even though there have been other choirs, my loyalty remains with the choir school. Dr. Roland and Mr. (Matt) Boatmon (organist) are amazing and I love being able to work with them on a weekly basis. Choir is truly one of the best things to ever happen to me, and I will always be grateful for every second I’ve spent there.’’
Asked if she has any parting advice for younger choristers, Sheridan offered this wise counsel: “Listen to Dr. Roland! He knows what he’s doing! Participate and always give 110%, it’s amazing how much you’ll learn.’’
Andrea Higgins graduated from high school in 2009 with a high GPA and admission to college. She credits the Choir School for much of that. Click here to learn more.