photo: Ema Whittaker
Every spring, the Wilton High School music groups come together to put on the “Pops” Concert, a performance unlike all other ones throughout the year: instead of the customary long black dresses and tuxedos, students can wear any nice outfit, and they perform popular music and Broadway show tunes. At this year’s Pops Concert on Wednesday, May 31, Wilton High School’s musical director/choral conductor of 11 years, Betsey DeGroff, will take the final bow of her 42-year career.
The WHS Music Boosters will be holding a special reception immediately following the Pops Concert in honor of DeGroff and her fellow music director, Marty Meade (orchestra), who also will be retiring this year. The reception will be held Wednesday evening in the Zellner Gallery at the Clune Center.
“The contributions of these two beloved members of the Wilton High School community cannot be overstated. They have inspired and supported the musical talents of hundreds and hundreds of our children. Their vision of excellence and commitment to the highest standards in music education will be remembered by all who worked with them, all who were taught by them, and all who enjoyed the concerts they directed,” says Lynn Driver, WHS Music Boosters president.
Under de Groff’s direction, the Concert Choir has grown to 150 students and has consistently received “First Place Superior” and “Outstanding Choir” distinctions at the annual adjudication events.
In addition to these accomplishments, deGroff also initiated a number of new traditions and performance opportunities for students. Every year the Hallelujah Chorus Sing-A-Long brings members of the Concert Choir together with alumni and others from the Wilton community to celebrate the holidays through music. Another cherished tradition first begun by deGroff is the annual performance of the Alumni Jabberwocky at the year-end Pops Concert. And just this past year, deGroff helped launch a student-run a cappella group.
In a Q&A session with DeGroff, we learned how she got started as a choral conductor, her aspirations for the future, and everything in between.
GOOD Morning Wilton: How did you know you wanted to be a music teacher?
Betsey DeGroff: I knew I wanted to be a music teacher by the eighth grade. I was sick, lying on the couch at Christmas time and I heard the “Hallelujah” chorus; I was so mesmerized by it, and I just knew that I had to go into music. My parents both sang opera and I had a wonderful, wonderful choral conductor, and I decided that was for me. I found out I really was a born teacher. I’ve been passionate about music my whole life.
GMW: What did you do to reach your goal of becoming a music teacher?
DeGroff: I came from a little town; I didn’t have the background that you have here. But I did have a mother who sang really well. And then I went and did an audition at the University of Maine, and that’s how I started my bachelor’s program in music ed choral conducting.
Then, I started a family, but I wanted desperately to go to grad school. We didn’t have much money, and I kept trying to get a scholarship to go to the University of New Hampshire. Eventually, I got a call from UNH and they offered me a teacher’s assistantship, which meant that I didn’t have to pay tuition, they would pay me to teach, and all I had to pay for was my books. I kept the part time job in Portland, Maine, had four kids, and traveled an hour and ten minutes to the classes each way.
GMW: How did you end up in Wilton?
DeGroff: My parents were from Stratford and my grandparents were from New Milford, but my family moved to Maine when I was three. When my kids were all gone, I wanted warm weather, so I started looking for jobs in California, and I took Santa Monica. And then my mother died in Maine, and I realized I was just too far away, so I tried to get a job back East. I interviewed here in Wilton. It was where I was from in the first place and I have lots of relatives here, so I was offered the job and I grabbed it.
GMW: What have been the highlights of your career?
DeGroff: Definitely Wilton. This is such a good program. I’ve had a lot of different ones–different sizes, I’ve been in public school, semi-private, private, college–so I’ve taught in lots of different atmospheres and venues, but this program really has it together. It’s just such a great community. I got to be friends with parents, friends with community people and the Wilton Singers, and so after eleven years I really made a life and I love it.
I also got the lead role in The Marriage of Figaro as Susanna, and that was a huge highlight, and it was such hard work because it’s a really huge role. It was the most fun I’ve ever had as a performer.
Having students reach the top of excellence and go into music is a huge tribute. And that’s what teaching is all about. When you see kids really become musical enough to need music in their lives, that it fulfills an ache for peace and beauty and emotional release. And just seeing students thrive in music is a really big gift for a teacher.
GMW: What has been the hardest parts of your job?
DeGroff: Learning to teach a huge middle school program was a challenge, and I needed help from a really wonderful principal who mentored me. I have had some difficult students that I’ve had to deal with, and that’s always a challenge. I’ve turned some around and felt very successful. Teaching isn’t perfection; you’re going to have difficulties with some, but most are the most wonderful people. And, I was lucky enough to choose a career that is an elective, and I get so many of the top kids in chorus. They’re motivated.
GMW: What has made your job the most fulfilling?
DeGroff: The kids. Watching them grow, and when they leave their senior year being so attached and stay in touch. And now I’m really excited because all the kids here can stay in touch through Facebook. That is the beauty of my job–kids.
GMW: What has made Wilton special to you?
DeGroff: It’s my first job where the whole department, all the music teachers, worked as a team, shared students, put students first. There were no egos–I’ve worked with people with big egos, where it’s all about their program instead of really trying to help kids stay both vocal and instrumental and do it all, and we’ve bent over backward to put the students first. And the support of the administration and the money that the community gives us helps us thrive.
And the boosters! I’ve never had a boosters organization like this. They do play such a huge role in this. You can’t imagine the work that our boosters do. And that’s a huge part of the satisfaction of this program. I really appreciate everything. I love this school. I love the teachers–the teachers are so committed to the students here. And there’s just a feeling of everybody really working towards excellence.
GMW: What are you going to take away from Wilton, and your career in general?
DeGroff: I’m going to take away 42 years of such satisfaction and remembering that no two days in all those 42 years have been the same. And that the enjoyment of having new ideas everyday; you probably can’t even imagine that even on the 42nd year, I come up with new methods and warmups; they just spontaneously come into my head. And so I’m going to go away with a feeling of wonderful satisfaction and thankfulness that I chose the right field. And I never wavered. I was always the educator, the lover of music.
And I’m going to continue that. I’m going to continue teaching privately, which won’t be a problem up in Maine because I’m still going to be in the area where I taught. I might compose, or arrange for choirs.
GMW: What are your other plans for the future?
BD: Stay healthy. I’m getting married, so it’s very happy for me. I might go back to making jewelry. I had a business called Heavens to Betsey. I haven’t really given it enough thought because I’m still in a flurry here trying to get everything done. But I’m looking forward to just relaxing after the wedding, and just doing what I choose to do, and not be on a schedule. And get more politically active! I’ve spent lots of time on the phone, writing letters, and in Hartford, but I’m going to do more.
GMW: Anything else to add?
BD: My parents were the best. So supportive. They were such an inspiration. The house was always filled with people singing. And quartets. They did opera programs, and all their friends became friends of mine. And I sang with them when I got older. We sang in choirs together; they were such an influence. When I was an undergraduate, my parents would drive two hours to be at my concert.