Music and artwork
SIKESTON -- If it weren't for choir, Sikeston High School senior Jennifer Davis said she wouldn't even like school.
"Music gives us the opportunity to express ourselves," said Davis, who has been singing since she was 3 years old.
Casey Palmer, who is also a Sikeston High School senior, also enjoys singing. Her mother and aunt sang in the school's choir years ago, and Palmer is following her family tradition.
"I used to be ashamed to say I was a member of the choir," Palmer said.
Now the Sikeston High School senior said when she graduates later this month, she will proudly say was a member of the Sikeston Choir.
Both Davis and Palmer credit Abe Leach, who will finish his first year as the school's vocal music instructor later this month, for improving their choir program and restoring their school pride.
"In the past four years, our choir program has not been very good," Palmer said. "Mr. Leach has started to build it back up. Now everyone in school knows about the choir."
The students said Leach works to recruit as many of their peers as possible to his choir.
"If you're just walking on campus, he'll ask, 'Can you sing? Have you ever thought about joining the choir?'" Davis said.
But the truth is no one wanted to join the choir before this year, the students said.
"Now we're excited to be part of the choir," Davis said.
For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, click here to log on to the electronic edition.