NEDERLAND - The Nederland Middle-Senior High School hosted an End-of-Year Choir Concert on May 7, 2025, honoring Elizabeth Evans and her 40 years of service as the Performing Arts teacher. 

It was a bittersweet occasion, to say the least, for seniors, students, and alumni as they bid adieu to their longtime teacher affectionately known as “Ms. Liz.” 

Alumni spanning 35 years, from 1989 all the way to 2024, attended the performance en masse, filling over 45 chairs on the stage to show support for their beloved teacher. 

Four choirs performed: the 6th Grade Choir, the 7th and 8th Grade Choir, the Festival Choir, and the Loquations group. 

The 6th Grade choir, AKA the “Rockin’ Chip Punks,” performed “Duct Tape,” a satirical tune extolling the greatness and utility of duct tape. “If you wield it with courage and honor, no sticky situation will you fear!” There was even some Latin verse to solidify the Gregorian monk vibe.

They also performed “Humble and Kind,” a sweet tune written by Lori McKenna and known by the notable performance of award-winning Country singer Tim McGraw.  

The 7th and 8th Grade Choir, also called “The Altitunes,” sang “Payphone,” a hit song by Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa. The lyrics explored the emotions of heartbreak and a romance that ended abruptly. 

“Duke’s Place” by Duke Ellington, also performed by the Altitunes, invited the audience to experience the scat of a jazz nightclub. 

The Festival Choir, donning red dresswear, rendered “Chained to the Rhythm” by Katy Perry, and “Happy Together” by the Turtles, originally released in 1967.

The Festival Choir also performed a choral medley, “4 Chords,” complete with props and makeshift costumes to act out the lyrics. The mash-up brought laughter to the audience and delighted their teacher.

The skill of the Loquations group was clearly evident. Harmonies floated through the air as some listened with eyes closed to the haunting melodies.

“Underneath the Stars” by Kate Rusby was a beautiful piece that the Loquations had been trying to do for a while, Evans noted afterward.

Seniors present included Aya and Keahi Pelkum-Donahue, Cedar Shupe, Amelie Bodnar, Andrew Davis, and Eric Thurston, who were acknowledged for their accomplishments by Evans and the audience. 

After that, the students presented a little surprise, a special song, "Seasons of Love” from Rent, with altered lyrics (Principal Goodrich’s idea). 

“We changed the number in the lyrics from the number of minutes in a year to the number of minutes Ms. Evans has been teaching,” said Aya Pelkum-Donahue, followed by raucous applause and cheers. 

As they sang out with smiling faces, the chorus revealed the sheer length of Evans’ career: 21,038,400 minutes!

The choirs collectively presented Evans with flowers and announced her “super secret farewell party” scheduled for Sunday, May 18, 2025, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Caribou Room.

The honored music teacher uttered heartfelt words before the last performance: “It’s a small school, but you’re never going to be small. Thank you for being such a big part of my life.” 

The grand finale involved all the school choirs and the Alumni Choir. Everyone on the stage stood up from their chairs and positioned themselves to act as a manual rhythm section.

They sang “Connected Words” by Brian Tate, which announced in its lyrics – “I am you are me.” Evans’ influence was evident in the faces—and voices—of her students throughout the years.

After the performance, flower bouquets abounded, and heartfelt hugs, handshakes, and well-wishes were exchanged. The sense of community was palpable, and you could feel an era of greatness coming to an end.