Alumni Join Choir in Farewell Bid
“My goals were simple: teach quality choral music and get as many students as I can to become involved in singing,” Choir Teacher Lauren Voight said. “The thing I will miss the most will be the interactions with students, watching them grow and make progress in their learning. Anyone thinking of becoming a teacher has to do it for those reasons.” (Photo by Bailey Van Orman)
To celebrate retiring after 36 years of teaching, Choral Director Lauren Voight hosted an alumni night on May 3 during the annual Spring Concert.
The event attracted over 100 alumni who sang along with current students in two final numbers.
During her years at Warren Hills, Voight has taught Advanced Choir, General Music, Music Theory and Appreciation, Guitar, Piano, and Adaptive Music. She is also the director of Select and Rock and Pop Choirs and has been the music director for the Spring Musicals at the high school throughout her career.
Senior choir member Connor Farrington captured the spirit of the evening.
“Mrs. Voight is a wonderful person with a heart of gold,” he said.. “She gives her all to her students and has improved the lives of so many people.”
Soon after this year’s spring musical, Anastasia, Voight announced that she would be retiring at the end of the year.
“I feel that it is time to retire, because after 36 years in the best job on earth,” Voight said, “I believe it is time for me to spend some time closer to home and to pass the torch to someone with some fresh new ideas for the program.”
Warren Hills Middle School students also performed two songs at the concert, with one of those songs being performed with the High School Advanced Choir.
At the end of the concert, alumni of all ages joined the choir onstage to sing two closing songs: “Blue Moon” and “Oh Danny Boy.” There was not a dry eye in the house.
Warren Hills Alumna Hannah Devoe (Class of 2021) fondly recalled Voight’s influence on her own passion for singing.
“When we were in New York City for my freshman year trip, Mrs. Voight would ask us every time we went somewhere if we wanted to sing one of our songs,” Devoe recalled. “We sang at the Empire State Building, like we were supposed to. After that, we [chose to] sing in Rockefeller Center and in our seats at the musical we attended. That memory always sticks out to me because it made me realize how much I love singing and music.”
The concert also included a performance from 1997 alumna and professional opera singer, Amy Shoremount, who sang a piece titled “Zueignung” by composer Richard Strauss.
“I was inspired to choose this song because of the fact that it is a dedication,” said Shoremount, “but also because it was a song that Mrs. Voight helped me to learn all the way back then.”
At the end of the concert, a surprise guest made his way up on stage. Voight was unfortunately not going to be able to attend her son’s college graduation, so he brought his graduation to her by walking up on stage in his cap and gown and presenting her with flowers.
“It’s hard to pick a specific favorite part, but my son surprising me by showing up was both shocking and wonderful,” Voight said.
To finish off the night, a reception was held in the library where all were invited to mingle.
