By Marianne Lincoln

SPANAWAY, WA — May 27, 2014, the final Spanaway Lake High School Choir Concert for the year. This was like no other. You see, behind the back of their choir director, Bernard Crouse, students, teachers and the arts administrator were secretly plotting by email and on Facebook. They communicated with as many alumni of the choir program at Spanaway Lake as they could possibly contact. The purpose? It was the final concert for Bernard Crouse, he is retiring at the end of this year.

So the concert began with all the usual choir group performances, with Mr. Crouse leading. Then The Music Company took the stage with it top 40 Rock and Roll renditions which was amusing, funny and extremely entertaining as is the trademark for The Music Company.

Seniors received awards in various categories as is tradition. Then Katie Cripe-Elshire took the microphone and tributes began for Mr. Crouse. First, the Principal Julie Baublits thanked him for his years of success. Then Mr. Crouse had flowers for Mrs. Crouse for all her years of supporting him. Then out came the basket of flowers and balloons from the choir students followed by the biggest surprise. As Mrs. Cripe-Elshire led, former students of the SLHS choir program stood in the audience and began singing, then slowly stepped down from the bleachers and into the risers at the front of the audience. They sang Believe (Journey) and Happy Trails (Roy Rogers) among other tunes. Mr. Crouse was very visibly surprised and touched.

Then he invited all the current students to join the others on stage. By the time they all got there, nearly half of the audience was on the stage rather than the bleachers. As the tune progressed, members slowly departed the stage until only a few singers remained and by the end of the song, the stage was clear. At that moment a rousing cheer rose up from the audience and everyone came to their feet with applause. Students began rushing down to hug Mr. Crouse and the tears started pouring.

The choir program from Spanaway Lake High School through The Music Company has reached all over the western United States including California and Hawaii. They have had hundreds of local performances including many at the Puyallup Fair and even singing the Star Spangled Banner for the Seattle Mariners. They have received many awards in competitions and best of all, produced many well-rounded graduates.

Thank you Mr. Bernard Crouse for all the days, the work, the successes, the lessons, the advice, the coaching, the encouragement, the performances, the fundraising and for loving what you do!

As a Music Company Mom, a former Bethel School Board member and a local taxpayer, I lift my cup to toast all that you have meant to your community. A job truly well done!