The Voice of Excellence
Published - April 2004
What is the next step after you have taken two different school vocal music programs from average to state and national levels of recognition for musical excellence? Well, if you are Christopher Card, you decide to do it again, and this time, it will be with the vocal music program at Webberville Community Schools.
Webberville Community Schools is excited to announce that Christopher Card will be the Director of Choral Music beginning with the 2004-2005 school year. Card will join Don Hyvarinen, Director of Bands, in the next step of taking the fine arts program to a new standard of excellence. “I have a strong belief in the value a quality education in the arts can offer to students, school and community,” Mr. Card commented. “A quality education in the arts makes an amazingly strong life impact on the performer and the audience. I further believe that a quality arts education can happen anywhere if the right ingredients for success are present. I believe Webberville is the place to put this belief to the test.”
Mr. Card comes to Webberville from Byron Center High School, where he was the Director of Vocal Music. During his three years at Byron Center, Card transformed the vocal group into a first rate program that consistently achieved superior ratings, 1 st place finishes, and had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall. With the success achieved at Byron Center, why come to Webberville? Mr. Card responded, “I believe a nationally recognized arts program can be implemented at Webberville in a time when finances and resources are limited. The major components of any successful venture are vision, opportunity, unconditional support, and passionate involvement of leadership and membership. Webberville is ready for this kind of exceptional venture; I see a vision for excellence and a hunger for growth in Webberville. It will happen; I want to be a part of it.”
In addition to his teaching career, Card is a composer and performing artist in piano, voice, and guitar. He has been a private vocal instructor for over 15 years and has 26 years of experience in piano study, accompaniment, and performance. Asked what he hopes to bring to the students of Webberville, Card commented, “My major goal is to get a lot of students singing in choir. Students who never thought they would be good at or like choir end up loving every day of it! I have found that singers with average talent are capable of singing incredibly well in a choir that is prepared for excellence. My next goal is to fine-tune the voices we have into choirs that blow audiences away with their energy, excitement, and artistry. In a few years, I would like to see Webberville choirs at state festival. In four years, I would like to see Webberville choirs at Carnegie Hall.”
Card has an obvious passion for singing and what it can do to transform student lives. “Singing can be one of the most enjoyable activities a person can be a part of. Too many people don't take the opportunity to sing! I want to bring enthusiastic and artistic performing to Webberville and develop a choral program where students are proud to be part of an excellent choir!”
Card, along with his wife, Christine, and their two children, Cullen, age 4, and Ceana, age 21 months, will be moving to the Webberville community this summer. “Bringing my family to Webberville to be members of this giving community is going to be a wonderful thing. As a family, we look forward to moving to town and creating meaningful relationships with students and families.”