Letter from the Principal - February 2025

February 12, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Cretin-Derham Hall band and choir students had the honor of performing at the SEC Music Festival on Monday, February 3. This year, the festival was hosted by Irondale High School. Each SEC high school band, choir, and orchestra performed throughout the day for guest clinicians.

The festival included a concert on Sunday evening. More than 650 guests listened to the All-Conference Band, All-Conference Choir, and All-Conference Orchestra. The three ensembles performed separately and joined together at the concert’s end for their traditional finale of  “America the Beautiful.”  It was nothing short of spectacular.  

While the evening performance was outstanding, the festival's highlight was listening to our CDH students perform and receive feedback from the guest clinicians. Our band and choir were well-prepared, and they performed beautifully. The guest clinicians complimented both groups and provided insightful feedback. I was so proud of them and their performances. It was a gift to witness their pure love of music and learning.  

Our performing arts students are blessed by their directors' talent, leadership, and commitment. Our choir director, Ms. Delilah Schuster, is in her second year at CDH. Our band director, Mr. Teddy Willams, started directing the CDH Band this year. Cullen Wiley, a 2016 CDH theater alum, took over our theater program at the beginning of the school year. Each of them shares their gifts and talents within their individual programs. Through their shared love of the arts and energy, our CDH performing arts department is flourishing.  

I am grateful and proud that CDH celebrates the arts and that our students have these opportunities. 

Enjoy these longer daylight hours,

Mona Passman