VARSITY ARTS
By DIANE A. RHODES
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
When Mikayla Ambriz agreed to become president of the Hemet High School Choir Officers, she knew it would be hard work. What she wasn’t expecting was the absence of a choir teacher.
After longtime choir teacher Bonnie Pumphrey retired in 2015, her replacement lasted only one school year. And the next teacher resigned for personal reasons just after the school year started in August.
The position is being filled with a substitute teacher with support from campus supervisor Chatele Beard, a Hemet High graduate and former chamber singer, principal Emily Shaw said.
Ambriz, a 17-year-old senior, stepped up and now directs the concert choir, working closely with Beard, who directs the Women’s Choir and Chamber Singers. Ambriz sings with the latter group.
Ambriz takes care of activities, events and fundraisers for all three choirs.
“The duties for president vary depending on the teacher. Since there is no (permanent) teacher, my duties as president include all the responsibilities of a teacher,” Ambriz said. “I do have fellow officers that help in any way they can. Each of us has different traits that work together well.”
Ambriz said the team selects and teaches the music, plans competition trips, schedules fundraisers, plans the year-end banquet and does other things such as settle disputes between students.
She discusses all of her decisions with
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Senior Mikayla Ambriz, shown at Gibbel Park in Hemet, took over the Hemet High concert choir when the teacher had to unexpectedly step down in August.
FRANK BELLINO, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Ambriz rehearses Nov. 18 with the Hemet High School Chamber Singers.
DIANE A. RHODES, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
SING: Student leads concert choir
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Beard, who was in the group from 1989 to 1992, and said she stepped forward because there was a need.
“The kids and the program deserve to have someone that is willing to help them and has a love for music,” she said.
Ambriz said singing in a choir requires attentiveness, cooperation and an ability to learn quickly – and directing 50 classmates requires a whole lot more.
“As a leader, you must be kind, understanding and patient in order to establish trust with the students,” she said. “However, I must be good with confrontation and firm with the students to gain respect. Directing definitely requiresmore dedication and determination than simply participating.”
Ambriz has been singing at 412 Church in San Jacinto since sixth grade. She is a member of the adult worship team and also has been a leader for the youth team for three years. She also played basketball from first to 10th grade.
In spite of her many creative outlets, she takes her academics seriously and will be graduating with honors. She plans to study engineering with a major in mathematics and a minor in music at a university. She said she’d like to continue leading worship at a church wherever she ends up attending school.
“No one in my family has gone to college, so I am proud to have paved a new path that my younger brothers and cousins can follow,” Ambriz said. “I am hoping that this experience can be something that sets me apart from other musicians and students and can open up new opportunities for me.”
Serving as director of the concert choir, Ambriz recently led the group in the national anthem at a Veterans Day celebration in Hemet. She also will be part of the school’s winter concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 6.
“As a leader, you must be kind, understanding and patient in order to establish trust with the students.
Directing definitely requires more dedication and determination than simply participating.”
MIKAYLA AMBRIZ, A 17-YEAR-OLD SENIOR AT HEMET HIGH SCHOOL WHO DIRECTS THE SCHOOL’S CONCERT CHOIR
Mikayla Ambriz, left, works with campus supervisor Chatele Beard, a Hemet High graduate, on a Christmas song the Hemet High School Chamber Singers were rehearsing Nov. 18.
PHOTOS: DIANE A. RHODES, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Hemet High School senior Mikayla Ambriz accepts an award from the Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program on Oct. 27.