New Faces Bring New Energy to CDH Music
Greta Cunningham '23
September 9, 2024
It’s an exciting time for music at Cretin-Derham Hall as CDH welcomes new band director Teddy Williams. Williams will join choir director Delilah Schuster, who started at CDH last year, in continuing to grow music education for students.
“Research shows that students who participate in music ensembles do better academically in their other classes,” Schuster said. “I think that’s due to the community it provides. Everyone holds each other accountable to be their best selves. It’s so important to offer that to our students.”
CDH has a curricular choir and band that students can participate in as part of their class schedule.
“It’s a great creative outlet during the school day,” Williams said. “While there are still things in music that you could consider right and wrong, there’s also a lot of room for individualization in a way you might not get in other classes.”
For co-curricular options, students can join jazz band, pep band, Purple Reign a cappella group, and Music Ministry.
“The way the music community mixes with the rest of the school is really special,” Williams said. “Whether it’s singing at Mass or performing at games, our students have the opportunity to elevate the experience of these gatherings for everyone around them.”
Beyond creating a sense of community across the student body, band and choir foster their own communities for students involved.
“The community inside music is incredible,” Williams said. “You’ll always remember the friends that you make performing together. You’re not going to remember all the music you played, but the people you did it with will stay with you.”
Band and choir trips, such as last year’s visit to San Diego, performances at other schools, and competitions present opportunities for students to travel together and bond. This year, Williams wants to offer the same experience to middle school bands invited to visit CDH.
“I’d love middle schoolers in the area to have the chance to play with us or watch us and see that CDH band is something really fun they can look forward to doing as high schoolers,” he said. “Our band is a group of students they can look up to. It really is a rock star group, and everyone here is committed to growing the program.”
For band and choir, it’s always the more the merrier.
“I think a lot of people get nervous about joining choir because they don’t think they can really carry a tune, but a choir is made up of so many voices, and it can’t just be carried by one person’s talent,” said Schuster. “If you don’t feel like you can sing, joining choir is exactly how to learn.”
Curricular band and choir, jazz band, and Music Ministry require no audition for students to participate.
“We want everyone to have the chance to learn music, even if you have no previous experience,” Williams said. “This is a place for all.”
To learn more about band and choir, you can visit CDH’s arts page on the website.