This year is the 16th annual Grand Ledge High School Collage Concert, and the last one for choir director Mrs. Sheri Petersen. After 16 years of being the head choir director here at Grand Ledge High School, Petersen officially announced at the beginning of 2024 that she will retire after this school year.
The Collage Concert features the Grand Ledge High School (GLHS) band and choirs. “Collage is a spectacular arrangement of all the musical arts to be presented in front of a crowd,” junior Madrigal choir member Xander Lieb said.
While Collage displays both the choirs and band, it also showcases many soloists and small groups, whether it be with instruments, singing, or even both.
Mrs. Petersen and band teacher Mr. John Szczerowski, who both started teaching in Grand Ledge in 2008, formed the idea of Collage to bring unity to the music department.
“The old band and choir director did not get along, and we were like ‘You know what? We’re gonna get along’ and ‘Hey, let’s do this Collage Concert’. And so that’s where it started, and in 2008 was the first Collage Concert,” Petersen said.
With Petersen retiring after the 2024-2025 school year the responsibility as head choir director has been confirmed to be passed on to Mr. Kenneth Bedwell.
“Next year I will actually be here at the high school primarily teaching all four choirs (Vocal Ensemble, Concert Choir, Bel Canto, and Madrigals). So we will be looking for another ‘me’ next year, someone to co-teach and fill my current positions,” Bedwell said.
While anticipating his role next year, he currently co-teaches two choirs at the high school, co-teaches the Beagle Middle School Boys Choir, and teaches exploratory choir at Hayes Intermediate.
With Bedwell taking over next year, many students have been wondering what will happen to the annual concert.
“I would love to see Collage continue on. I see it as a tradition of GLHS’ fine arts and I believe this is one of the many traditions we have that should stay,” Lieb says.
Petersen agrees with Lieb in that she would like to see the tradition continue, along with the traditions that have formed within the concert.
“I certainly hope that he keeps the ending piece and it doesn’t always have to be the same as we know but it’s a wonderful way to end,” Petersen said.
Acknowledging how important Collage is for students, parents, and community members, Bedwell is excited to take over and continue the tradition.
“I would think in the first couple years after Mrs. Petersen leaves, keeping current traditions is probably the best way to go because especially if the traditions have been there for a long time it’s really more for the students and the community, so definitely, Collage has to happen,” Bedwell said.
