Opinion: Music Dept. Seniors Appreciate Relationships

By Kallie Gilbart '22


The Delone Catholic Music Department is something that many people don’t know much about, especially all the behind the stage fun that goes on. Jocelyn Meyer, Benjamin Elsner, and I have been friends within and outside this department for the last four years. Through spring musicals, concerts, and music classes we have made a ton of memories and other friendships. 


The music department is great because everyone involved has a similar love for the joy and passion for music. No matter what your musical talent is or how developed that talent is, the department is happy to have more people involved. 


The spring musicals in particular are the reason for many friendships and happy memories at Delone. In the craziness of senior year, the routine of going to rehearsals and seeing my friends made it seem a lot more focused. The show took hard work, but many nights it just felt like hanging out with the people I loved and we just happened to also be singing and dancing. 


Some fun memories throughout the production of the show include us coming up with new dance routines, singing in funny voices, post rehearsal ice cream or Sheetz runs and just always trying to make the most of the time on and off stage. 


It was also fun getting to know the younger students, forming those relationships, and teaching them all of the fun traditions that the music department has created over the years. Jocelyn, Ben and I were freshman during the production of Beauty and the Beast in 2019, so being able to go back on stage with them for Seussical this year felt like we had really gone full circle. 


Being a mentor to the younger performers and helping boost their confidence and their spirits through tough rehearsals came naturally to us and felt good to be able to be able to help, since we had already done this once before. The show this year, Seussical, was even more special to me because Jocelyn and I played Gertrude and Mayzie. These characters interact a lot and have a special relationship in the show. 


Jocelyn and I have been friends since our very first chorus class with Mr. Yealy in the fall of 2018, so for us to play these characters meant a lot to us. Looking back to that first class seems like it was a lifetime ago. 


Mr. Yealy has been a great mentor for us since that very first day, and has always had our best interest at heart. To have a music teacher that cares this much about the students and the work he does has made the four years I have been a part of it amazing. 


As this last year comes to an end, I would like to thank everyone who was a part of the Delone Catholic Music Department in my time. Of course a special thank you also goes out to Jocelyn, Ben, and Mr. Yearly. This school is special, this department in particular, so any time or effort put into it will not be wasted.


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