With more than 30 years experience teaching performing arts at Charles Wright, Judy Herrington is the first of several current and former faculty members who have agreed to share their thoughts on the language and performing arts programs on this blog.

Judy writes:

Everyone who is connected to Charles Wright is aware of the tangible and intangible effects this school has on our lives. We each have a story or defining moment that has changed our life’s direction. Sometimes its effect is immediate, and other times it is the result of layers of experiences. Behind these moments are always elements of inspiration.

A moment I will always remember was in last year’s first grade class performance of the song “Walking in the Snow.” After the piano interlude, I looked up to see a little girl blinking. She said with wonder, “I have water in my eyes.” She was baffled as to why she had tears in her eyes but she was very aware of being deeply touched by the power of music. It is inspiring to be part of an artistic experience for such a young child.

While teaching my classes of young students I am very aware of the exciting learning opportunities they will have as they move through the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. I see amazing potential, talent and energy, and I know these children will be inspired by the experiences they have and will have at Charles Wright.

Judy joined the Lower School faculty in 1975, teaching pre-kindergarten through 6th grade general music classes, conducting choirs and advising school musicals. In 1991, Judy founded the Tacoma Youth Chorus, a select, auditioned youth choir program. Well known through the Puget Sound area, TYC now serves over 240 musically gifted boys and girls, ages seven through eighteen.

Last May, Judy was invited to visit Japan where she instructed ten choirs and served as guest conducted for concert where all ten choirs sang together. Next summer, she will lead the TYC Chorale on a performance tour of Eastern Europe. Judy holds a bachelor of arts degree in music from the University of Oregon and a masters of arts in teaching music from Lewis and Clark University. She has furthered her conducting studies through master classes with Rodney Eichenberger and Henry Leck.

Judy is highly regarded as a guest conductor and as a workshop and choral clinician. She is a past-president of the Washington-American Choral Directors Association. She has conducted all-state honor choirs and festivals in Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Montana, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Alaska and Tokyo. Judy was recently selected as the guest conductor for the 2008 Western American Choral Directors Association Junior High Honor Choir, a prestigious national recognition. Through Pavane Publishing and Colla Voce Publishing, she has published choral compositions and arrangements, and she has co-authored choral teaching texts. She also edits a choral series for Pavane Publishing.