Farewell songs
Rugby’s Class of 2010 will end its education journey together later this month.
Two seniors – Theresa Mack and Abigail Jenkins – recently expressed that in songs which will be performed during the May 30 commencement.
“This was a way to express those emotions of finishing school…going our separate ways,’ Jenkins said. “It’s something that is a signature of our class.”
The choir will sing “Ever On and On” while a small choir made up of seniors will sing “A Last Refrain (Here’s to Now).”
Two selections written by the girls with input from a number of classmates.
Mack said Daryl Wissink, Rugby vocal music instructor, was again supportive of the idea of the two writing music to perform at the graduation ceremony. Once the music was ready, the choir began rehearsing.
This is the third year an original musical selection will be performed during the graduation by Mack.
She wrote a song two years ago for Rugby’s commencement ceremonies.
“It wrote for my sister, Liz, who was graduating then,’ Mack said. “The senior students the next year asked if I was going to write a song for them, so I did.”
Abigail collaborated with Theresa on that song as well. And there was no doubt the two would write another for their graduating class.
However, it took awhile for the combination of music and lyrics to mesh.
Writing a song is a quite difficult task, and even though Mack has done it before, it’s just as challenging a third time.
“Coming up with the music was the easy part,’ Mack admits. “It’s finding the lyrics to go with it which was challenging. You didn’t want them to sound corny.”
Or, include lot of cliches’, Jenkins adds.
Fortunately, the two received help from fellow classmates in putting words to the music.
Mack said it’s special to hear your words and music being performed.
Of course it’s not just a creation of the two, but the class of 2010.
“We wanted our classmates to feel this was their song…our class song’ Jenkins said.