The longtime leader of the choir department at Houston Schools is retiring.
Beth Williamson’s resignation was accepted last Thursday night during the closed session of the monthly school board meeting. She will retire at the end of the current school year.
Williamson is completing her 18th year with the Houston School District – part of a career that spans 35 ½ years in music in Texas County. She also taught in Raymondville and Summersville before moving to Houston in 2005.
“I have so many wonderful memories from all of the schools I was privileged to be a part of,” Williamson said. “The communities and administration provided the support needed to offer our youth with a rewarding choral music experience.”
A Springfield native, Williamson graduated from Fair Grove High School in 1978 before earning a degree in music education and vocal performance from College of the Ozarks. She later received a masters in music in vocal performance at Northeast Louisiana State University. Her first teaching job came in 1985 when she taught K-8 music part-time at Raymondville as well as middle and high school music in Summersville.
Houston did not have a choir program for two years before Williamson was hired. She developed the program – and its students – into award winners.
During the past 13 years in Houston, Williamson has guided her choir to 25 “1” conference ratings with two championships as well as 20 choir state “1” rankings. The number of accolades her students have achieved are numerous:
{{tncms-inline alignment=”right” content=”<p>&ldquo;I have so many wonderful memories from all of the schools I was privileged to be a part of,&rdquo; Williamson said. &ldquo;The communities and administration provided the support needed to offer our youth with a rewarding choral music experience.&rdquo;</p> <p>-BETH WILLIAMSON</p>” id=”5a376585-57e5-4c56-84c0-e6bcb7c12e2b” style-type=”quote” title=”Quote” type=”relcontent” width=”half”}}
•241 members of the South Central All-District honors choir.
•265 all-conference honors in the South Central Association.
•834 individual district ensemble/solo medals.
•307 individual state ensemble/solo medals.
“We have great young people in our community and to be a part of their lives was a true blessing,” Williamson said. “The opportunity to get to know these young adults through music education is the best possible job and to witness their success is indescribable.”
Williamson was named the Missouri State Teachers Association’s middle school educator of the year for 2007-’08 in the southwest region. Seven years ago, she started the Texas County Community Choir.
Williamson, who has led Houston choir performances at locations across the state and even Washington, D.C., will lead one last concert on May 10, 2019. Then it’s onto the next chapter of life.
“Music education will continue to be part of my life because I do plan to teach private voice and piano after retiring from the public schools life,” she said. “God has always guided my footsteps, and I know he has wonderful plans for my next adventure in life.”
“I have so many wonderful memories from all of the schools I was privileged to be a part of,” Williamson said. “The communities and administration provided the support needed to offer our youth with a rewarding choral music experience.”
-BETH WILLIAMSON