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Ripley High School Choir Takes Flight
The story of "Phoenix Blue"
Many individuals have gone through the music department at Ripley High School. The choir department has been a place that many people have called "home" over the years. Many school systems have seen the impact of the pandemic on the performing arts in particular- dropping what was once three choirs into one choir that barely scraped 20 members.
In 1982, Ripley High School formed a show choir, "Blue Persuasion", under the direction of Ellen Gibson-Goodwin. The group quickly gained ground, earned many accolades, and slowly became a beloved staple in Ripley. By this point, John Ryder had taken over the leadership. Between the outstanding concert choir and "Blue Persuasion", Ripley was a force to be reckoned with. In 2004, the show choir took the stage for the last time.
Fast forward to 2023, a push for consistency between the classes offered at Ravenswood and Ripley, Show Choir was put back onto the program of study. Ravenswood's "Rave Review" has a similar legacy of top-notch music education opportunities- and it became time to at least offer it to our students. What we thought would take years, began in that moment.
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Interest ignited.
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Students began inquiring and registering for show choir. Many didn't know how to sign-up for the class because they didn't see the class listed- because it was listed under "Blue Persuasion". Although that name is everything to some, our students aren't aware of what came before- yet. The students who went through the audition process know that this is the first year of the ensemble- and it will block what would be the 20th year silenced. The road of advocacy will be long and they will be putting in the ground work to bring back what once was- but for their own namesake. If only fumes of someone else's memories could be the momentum needed, "Blue Persuasion" would work. The mythical phoenix is a bird that is known for a death of combustion, only to be birthed again from it's parent's ashes. We found it only fitting to be called "Phoenix Blue"
Meet the Director
Mr. Daniel Ricks
The Ripley High School Choral Department is now under the direction of Mr. Daniel Ricks. He is beginning his tenth year as a West Virginia music educator. Mr. Ricks began his teaching career in his hometown of Roane County, directing the Roane County High School Choral Music Program as well as the Theatre Department. Under his direction, the choirs performed at the Greenbrier Hotel for the annual WV Reading Association's Annual Conference, performed alongside America's Got Talent winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., and were active participants in various community events. The theatre department produced works like Arthur Miller's "The Crucible", John Cariani's "Almost Maine", and John Flaherty's "Seussical the Musical".
In addition to the choir and theatre departments, Mr. Ricks also served as the assistand band director for the Raider Marching Band. He was named the 2018 Roane County Teacher of the Year.
"I am incredibly excited to start this new chapter in Jackson County with with students of Ripley High School. I am honored to be a part of the legacy and traditions of vibrant music education, and I look forward to making music with the talented youth of Jackson County."
Contact
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