Bay’s late choir teacher gets pitch-perfect tribute

It was a somber crowd at Hudson’s Bay High School, at a choral concert in memory of Candace “Candy” Morrison, a popular choir teacher who died Wednesday after being thrown off a horse.

But the music the students sang Monday night, from operatic to African, seemed to lift students’ and teachers’ spirits.

“I’m going to miss her,” one man said. “She’s leading a choir up in heaven now.&#8221

&#8220The best way to honor Mrs. Morrison is to continue to sing,” said Patricia Lilly, a performing arts official with the school district. She said students should believe in themselves and work to exceed their expectations.

Student after student gave short tributes to Morrison, talking about her sunny smile, her encouragement when they were nervous, and about how they consider her more than a great teacher, but also a friend.

“You were there to listen and help me through an ordeal,” said Amanda Burch, who, like several students, wrote poems to Morrison and read them at the podium. “You taught us to feel the music in our souls.”

The concert took place in a large, many-windowed common area, where large banners high on the walls said Diversity, Pride, Respect and Dignity

During the performance, a young woman faced the crowd and translated words into sign language.

Four-year choir student Brianna Forman said she was happy to help Morrison, who challenged singers with college-level scores they struggled with and cheered them up when they lost motivation.

“For three of those years, I felt like I was her personal assistant,” Forman said.

Rick Emery, now a choral assistant, said he sent Morrison a letter asking for a job. After they met and Emery demonstrated his musicality, she quickly accepted him and brought him into her busy schedule.

“I knew I found my place,” Emery said. “I will always remember her.”

Performances included an operatic solo with Alena Piersoll singing “O Del Mio Dolce Ardor.”

Alice Dalrymple, who met Morrison when they were college freshmen studying music, told about violating dormitory curfew, sunbathing on the roof and being required to learn, in addition to singing, how to play many instruments. When it came to the trumpet, “We actually spent more time laughing than blowing the stupid trumpets,” she recalled, adding “She’d never hurt a fly and she always found the best in people.”

Ashley Nordquist, a choir grad, remembered Morrison’s smile and said, “If I had a problem at home, she would be there for me.”