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    Columbus Makes Art Presents Columbus Children’s Choir Artistic Director Jeanne Wohlgamuth


    Columbus Children’s Choir Artist Director Jeanne Wohlgamuth

    “There is no better vocation than that of being an educator and helping to shape the minds of our future generation”

    — Jeanne Wohlgamuth, Conductor

    Ahead of Columbus Children’s Choir’s holiday performances, we chatted with Artist Director Jeanne Wohlgamuth, whose choirs have won countless awards and toured extensively both nationally and abroad. As a conductor, Jeanne has won multiple international competitions, performed at Carnegie Hall and even collaborated with the Vienna Boys’ Choir.

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    Kerry: Jeanne, thank you for agreeing to answer some silly questions for me today. Although, maybe your answers will inspire someone thinking about a career in music education. What would you think about that?
    Jeanne: Haha. I can’t imagine that, but I truly believe I have the best job in the world. So I guess it would be ok if my experiences led someone to teach. When teaching in the public schools, I would literally jump out of bed every morning and be excited to go to school. You’ll laugh at this, but back in the day before automated phone calls, I would complain every time my administrator called to tell me that school was canceled due to the weather. There is no better vocation than that of being an educator and helping to shape the minds of our future generation.

    Kerry: Ok, here’s a tough one right out of the gate. You’ve taught all ages of students. Which are the hardest, which are most fulfilling and which could you skip all together? I promise we won’t judge.
    Jeanne: Oh, that is hard. I’ll take you at your word that you won’t judge. I truly have enjoyed teaching all levels. Elementary is exhausting, but fun. The students at the elementary level are kind of like puppies. They are innocent, enthusiastic, energetic and will love you unconditionally.

    Middle school is exciting, because every day you are met with a different challenge. Middle schoolers are quirky, they are honest and not afraid to say what they are thinking, and they will hold you accountable. Yet if you can get them on your side, they are incredibly loyal and will work hard. With middle schoolers you will always have a funny story to tell at a party! As much as I loved working with younger students, I am really lucky to have an amazing team of directors at Columbus Children’s Choir that specialize in working with elementary and middle school age children.

    I really found my calling when I started working with high school singers. I am not going to lie, I was very apprehensive when I began teaching this level. I was petrified that they would know more than me. I remember one of my singers, who was quite intelligent, constantly trying to catch me making a mistake. So in an attempt to turn a bad thing into a good thing (from my perspective), I decided we would have a little competition. I posted a tally sheet with both of our names on the board in my classroom. When he caught me making a mistake, I would give him a point. When I caught him making a mistake, I would give myself a point. Guess who won? I did, thank goodness! l never had any more challenges from that student, nor the rest of that class. Ultimately, I did learn a lot from him and vice versa.

    Kerry: That actually leads us really nicely to my next question. You started as a piano major. Somewhere along the way you transitioned to vocal music. Did you ever have aspirations to play piano professionally or was it always meant to serve as a teaching tool?
    Jeanne: My career aspiration was to become a concert pianist. Sadly, for various reasons, I did not begin taking lessons until I was a senior in high school. Within six months of taking lessons, I auditioned for music school and got accepted. To this day, I don’t know how! When I was in college, I would practice five or six hours a day. I was determined, yet naïve, in thinking I could accomplish in a few years what my classmates had been perfecting from before they entered elementary school. My dreams were shattered when my private piano teacher was being interviewed on national TV. Out of her mouth came the words that I never wanted to hear: “No matter how much time you devote to practicing, if you did not start playing at a very young age, you will never become an accomplished concert pianist.” With those words, my dreams were crushed.

    While it was devastating, it led me to an incredibly fulfilling career. I believe that any person who has majored in music can teach choir. Let’s face it, music is music whether you teach band, choir or orchestra. All it takes is a determination to educate oneself to learn the proper technique and a desire to give your students a quality education. Some of the best choral educators that I have met throughout my career have not been singers.

    Jeanne Wohlgamut directs Columbus Children’s Choir during a performance at the Columbus Arts Festival.
    Jeanne Wohlgamut directs Columbus Children’s Choir during a performance at the Columbus Arts Festival.

    Kerry: Speaking of colleagues, you’ve done a lot of service and chaired many committees. That’s a lot of extra work. I’m sure people at the start of their careers are wondering, is it worth it?
    Jeanne: Extra work is an understatement! I just attended a committee meeting that began at 5:30 p.m. and didn’t finish until 12:30 a.m. That’s what happens when you get a group of very passionate music educators together in one room. We won’t quit until the job is done. To answer your questions, committee work and public service is an absolute must. The community you care about gets the benefit of your service and expertise, and you get the benefit of building a network that can help advance your career. Being someone who is passionate about music education has led me to be involved in some incredible community organizations like the Kiwanis Club of Columbus, whose main focus revolves around improving the lives of children. I have decided that sleep is overrated, so I spend my “free time” as President Elect of the Ohio Choral Directors Association and Vocal Affairs Choir for the Ohio Music Educators Association!

    Kerry: We’re getting close to holiday performances. Most musicians either love them or hate them. Which are your favorite to conduct, which are your favorite to hear and are there any you could really just do without?
    Jeanne: You really are trying to get me in trouble, aren’t you? I love them all, but I do have my favorites to conduct and to hear. I know how much my directors love Franklin Park Conservatory and Dickens of a Christmas. It’s such a special time of year for children and families, and seeing your child perform in your community is really meaningful to parents. I’m always excited to see my choir perform on the stage of the Ohio Theatre with the Columbus Symphony at Holiday Pops. While it’s a very long and tiring weekend, there is nothing more magical than seeing the faces of my singers when they come off stage after performing in one of the biggest holiday events in the city. Their expressions are priceless. Most of them have never had the opportunity to perform for a huge audience or with a world class orchestra like the CSO. It truly warms my heart. But the best part is that I get to prepare them and then just sit back and just enjoy the performance!

    See Wohlgamuth and Columbus Children’s Choir this busy holiday season. They’ll be performing with the Columbus Symphony’s Holiday Pops Dec. 2-4; at Franklin Park Conservatory, on Sunday, Dec. 4; a free show at State Auto’s Christmas Corner (518 E. Broad St.) on Wednesday, Dec. 7; and during Ohio History Connection’s Dickens of a Christmas at Ohio Village, Dec. 11.

    Columbus Makes Art Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting and advancing the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. The column is a project of the Art Makes Columbus campaign, telling the inspiring stories of the people and organizations who create Columbus art. Learn more about local artists, organizations, public art and events at ColumbusMakesArt.com.

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    Kerry Haberkernhttps://columbuschildrenschoir.org/
    Kerry Haberkern (she/her) is managing director of Columbus Children's Choir.
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