Willow Glen Resident

News

Photograph by Vicki Thompson

On Key: Willow Glen High School choir and dance teacher Sarah Duarte has brought the wow factor back into the school's program after the departure of former teacher Andrew Eisemann in 2004.

High school is alive with sound of music

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

Fresh faces at Willow Glen Middle and High Schools are hoping to revamp and revitalize the schools' music program.

Sarah Duarte and Kenny Williams, the new choir and dance and band teachers at the schools, have high goals for their fledgling music program.

Originally from San Jose, Duarte, who graduated from Leigh High School, moved to Southern California, where she received her degree in music with an emphasis in opera from UC-Irvine.

"I started my credential program in September, but by August of the same year I had already sent my résumè out to schools in the area," says Duarte, who wanted to move back to the Bay Area.

She contacted Willow Glen Music Booster presidents Darla Arnt and Debbie McCormick in the spring of 2006. They "clicked," Duarte says.

"They are a great group," she says.

Duarte was introduced to Elaine Farace, the high school principal, was hired to teach jazz camp during the summer of 2006 and then began teaching in September.

"It was just part of being in the right place at the right time," she says. "It's great being here."

Duarte's goal is to build up the schools' program.

"The choir department was severely depleted when I first came here," she says. "I had eight boys sign up for my first class."

To Duarte's delight, the music program has slowly begun to grow.

"Now my advanced choir class has 30 students, and my beginning choir class has 20," she says. "Things are looking hopeful."

During its peak in 2004 under the guidance of former choir teacher Andrew Eisemann, the program had up to 160 kids, Duarte says. "There's no reason why it couldn't happen again."

Reaching out to students who don't feel there's an organization for them is also what drives Duarte.

"Be it choir or band, I just want to reach out to the kids that are not interested in sports, or who may be in sports but are looking for something more," she says. "I want to show them that this is something that is valued at the school."

This year Duarte, 24, plans on taking the advanced choir to Southern California to compete in the Woodbridge High School Choral Festival.

"I know they will succeed and with this positive experience, build their confidence," she says.

Duarte is also taking the middle school choir on a road trip to Great America to perform in May.

Another newcomer to the music program, band instructor Kenny Williams, also sees the music program as an opportunity for students' personal growth.

"In Oak Grove, I got to travel all over the place through the band," Williams says. "We want something that their kids will be interested and excited about."

Williams also sees the band program as a way to build school pride, and make the program something the community can be proud to be part of.

Showcasing a growing program has other benefits, he says.

"A good band program does more for not only the students involved but the school as well," says Williams, who considers it another marketing tool for neighborhood schools. "A really strong band program draws attention to the school and gives students involved an opportunity to travel and experience things they may never have had in their lifetime."

Duarte and Williams' efforts have not gone without notice.

Marian Heinkel, whose daughter, Sharilyn, is in the choir, says the teachers were just what the program needed.

Sharilyn is a senior this year but has been involved in the school's music program throughout her four years.

"There was a great choir teacher, Mr. Eisemann, and he was what attracted us to the school initially," Heinkel says.

After Eisemann enticed the Heinkels to attend Willow Glen High School, he left the following year, and since then, music teachers have come and gone.

"It's been really inconsistent," Heinkel says. "The experience for Sharilyn was hard, but she stuck it out because she loves singing."

The senior almost gave up on the program her junior year until she met Duarte.

"She loved her," Heinkel says.

Heinkel says she and Sharilyn have been inspired by Duarte's energy and wish the choir teacher had arrived at the school sooner.

"Since Sarah became the choir teacher, Sharilyn has got some of her passion back," Heinkel says. "It's just a bummer she'll be graduating this year."