40 years of teaching comes to an end on Friday
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
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HAMLET — It’s not often the conductor or choir director takes the limelight from the students on stage. After all, the best performances are the ones in which the conductor, much like an umpire in baseball, is seen but not heard.
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Debbie Price was given flowers and a special version of “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” by her students to send her into retirement, which begins Friday at about 3 p.m.
But there was no doubt that Tuesday night inside the Robert L. and Elizabeth S. Cole Auditorium at Richmond Community College belonged to Debbie Price. Price is set to retire on Friday after 40 years in education. She has been the choir director at Richmond Senior High School since 1997. Before that, she was at Rockingham Junior High School for 18 years and, for four years, at Ashley Chapel Elementary School.
During the numbers, Price danced in her seat from the piano bench, her hands in the air as she guided the Richmond Senior High School Choral Music Department, which included students from the Ninth Grade Academy. She snapped her fingers with the situation called for. Led the crowd in a group performance of “Silent Night.” Smiled and gave the students an encouraging nod even when a note was missed or a word forgotten.
After “White Christmas,” students presented Price with a bouquet of flowers and serenaded her with a special version of “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.” The choir substituted “teacher” for “brother.” The lyrics are inspired by a story from a Boys Town orphanage in the days of post-World War I. They attempt to show how meaningful it is to care about someone, and to have someone care about you.
There is no doubt, however, that Price is ready for retirement. In fact, she had the two primary motivating factors brought up on stage just before “White Christmas.” Granddaughter Gia Brenmartin, 3, and brother Cooper, 1, live an hour away.
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“This is why I’m going home Friday,” said Price, speaking to the crowd as if they were her best friends, as she sat on the piano bench with both children during a break between numbers. Some of them were. The audience was dotted with former students from the past several years and many of them, along with friends from West Rockingham United Methodist Church where Price will continue to work as choir director, joined her on stage for “Silent Night.”
Price said afterward that the group performance is a crowd favorite. They always ask if she’ll do it again next year. This is the first time she’s had to say “no.”
“They’re here because they love music,” Price said of those in the audience.
After the Raider Marching Band and after the combined choral efforts, Price was honored with flowers and a song. When that finally ended, she was besieged by students wanting hugs (given), to make sure she’d be in class room (yes, and on time, too) or, as one student asked as she and Price walked back stage: “Are you really leaving?”
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Debbie Price brings to the stage her grandchildren, Gia, 3, and Cooper 1, and tells the audience that “this is why I’m going home Friday.”
“Yes,” Price said, wiping away a tear or two and making a minor fuss about her messed up makeup.
Short of vacations and summer breaks, Monday morning will be Price’s first free weekday in decades. Her freedom will be a permanent one. What to do?
“After my third cup of coffee, I’ll decide,” Price said.
Richmond Senior High School Marching Band
Director: Mike Ward
Flute: Madeline Bellanger, Kyara Covington, Dazia Everett-Ewing, Delisa Patterson, Tyra Strong, Baylee Webb
Clarinet: Nikkita Bowden, Kyshon Ewing, Christian Gould, Miracle Jones, Takara LeGrande, Bethany Pattan, Ney-Hagee Patterson, J’Nai Wall, Stephanie Wyand
Alto saxophone: James Harrington, Tamara Nelson, Alexis Shipp, Noah Spradlin
Trumpet: Makaya Bacon, Diamond Covington, Ivan Gutierrez, Jason Jenkins, Lukas Kohl, Candice Liles, Andrew McMillan, Destiny Riggins
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Mellophone: Analuz Carrillo
Trombone: Brittany Martin, Patrick Martin, Matthew Newton
Baritone: Dedrecus Gordon
Tuba: Devonte McNeil, Jylan Smith, Michael Thomas
Percussion: Brock Bartlett, Karon Deberry, Amber Dickens, Tatyana Dobson, Angelis Hernandez, Cameron Mabe, Cameron McDonald, Cordell Nelson, Yash Patel, Alec Rushing, Savannah Stubbs, Braxton Talbert, Mysheing Xiong
Color Guard: Elaysia Fortunte, Jadaja Martin, Jordan Martin, Sarah McMillan, Jarod Ricks, Kartier Walker, Kyia Walker, Grayson Wilkes
Drum major: Heather Bellamy, Megan Mills
Ninth Grace Academy Chorus
Director: Debbie Price
Soprano: Mary Davis, Chloe Eaton, Shania Everett, Jaikira Flowers, Harmony Jones, Brianna Oathout, Kiera Weatherford, China Williams
Alto: Abigail Barr, Jasmine Brown, Ashleigh Ellerbe, Brooklyn Jackson, Caitlyn Lord
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Baritone/Bass: Joshua Bell, Jordan Bennett, Trent Leviner, Cameron McDonald, Nichols Pearson, Carter Roberson, Tommy Shelton, Myles Short
Richmond Senior High School Advanced Choir
Director: Debbie Price
Soprano: Brianna Allen, Abigail Blackmon, Maggi Chambers, Mara Cobb, Ahyana Cox, Nijulia Flowers, Courtney Heaton, Alexis Hailey, Hayley Kottwitz, Brandi Miller, Destiny Oakes, Aleah Pearson, Alyse Player, Ana Rivers, Majesti Robinson, Kaitlin Smith, Chyna Spencer, Keiyon Thomas, Christian Tyler
Alto: Kyra Asbury, Kaitlin Brown, Nideya David, Kinder Edwards, Asya Evens, Cameron Herring, Montana Kelley, Cassie McFayden, Gracen Murr, Rachel Priest, J’Vis Wall, Denisha Watkins, Alliah Zinnerman
Tenor: Jeremy Harris, Zykie Lockhart, Elonte Riley, A.J. Watkins, Jahmal Wray
Baritone/Bass: Dadriene Davis, Dante Davis, Blake Dawkins, Houston Griffin, Juwan Lockhart.
