Following last year’s departure of Choral Director and Fine and Performing Arts Department Head Dr. Mosher, Mr. Andy Mullen has stepped in to try to guide the choir program to another successful year.
According to Mr. Mullen, he has been teaching music and choir for the past 15 years, and before that, he taught English and Drama classes. As the director of the choir, Mr. Mullen is primarily responsible for teaching all of the many choruses that RMHS offers, including Mixed Choir, Select Choir, RMHS Singers, and the a capella groups, Fermata Nowhere, Crescendudes, and Harmonium.
Mr. Mullen has big shoes to fill as the new RMHS Choral Director and Department Head. Mr. Mosher, who started as Director in 2021 and left at the end of last year, was very popular among students. Senior Quinn Synnott, President of the Choir Department, said, “I liked him a lot. He definitely had a big impact on my high school career.” Select Choir member Sebastian Orsini (‘27), shared similar feelings: “Mr. Mosher was a great teacher, and he was really fun to work with.”
Despite the high bar, Mr. Mullen’s reception has been resoundingly positive. Orsini shared, “He is a bright and– honestly–joyful teacher, and he brings good things to the program.” Synnott asserts, “He is exactly what the choir needed.”
Mr. Mullen believes that the choir members have made it easy for him. “It has been so incredible working with these terrific choirs. I am so amazed at how quickly they learn, and I am always taken aback by their wonderful musicianship. They are so dedicated to the choir program and bring such spirit and enthusiasm to each rehearsal.”
Naturally, new teachers tend to bring along their own new methods of teaching, but Mr. Mullen has been cautious of overstepping: “There is already a rich tradition that is present in the school’s choir community, and I am taking the time to get steeped in the culture and experience it all.” The changes he has made so far have been relatively minor. Among them are alterations to the grading system, new types of vocal activities and warm-ups, and weekly quizzes.
His goals for the year are simple: to continue to nurture and grow the program. He will have the opportunity to show off what his students have learned thus far during their next performance, the Winter Songfest, which will take place on December 11th.
Clearly, as Orsini puts it, “The choir program is in good hands.”
