Class of 2025. Just this spring, the yard signs for friends and siblings dotted community lawns. Commencement ceremonies sprang up across the world, blinking in and out of students’ lives like fireworks. One graduate from the Indianapolis University Jacob’s School of Music planned to make the most of her music education degree.
At 22 years old, Claire Rancourt joined the Noblesville High School staff as assistant choir director this fall. While her students may say that her youth brings her closer to them, these first weeks at NHS have been Rancourt’s introduction to a brand new environment.
Interviewer: Can you share of the tasks you have to do as the new choir director?
Rancourt: I’m the Treble Concert Ensemble, Synergy, Momentum, and Cantamos[…] And then I assist with the show choirs that are the varsity level, so Seniors and New Dimension.
Interviewer: How do you feel that your age may impact the way you communicate with your students, especially being this your first year teaching?
Rancourt: I use a lot of vernacular that y’all use, so if someone does something really well, I’ll be like, “slay, yay!” And other teachers around me will be like, “you talk like they do”, and I’m like, “yes, I do”.
Interviewer: Do you feel like [your age] impacts how seriously your students take you?
Rancourt: I think that I have to work a little harder to get the same level of respect, but for now, it’s been alright. Choir is such,[…] I don’t want to call it a sport, but it almost feels very much like a community. I have to trust my students, and they have to trust me. I don’t know if it’s any different from how other teachers do it. I feel like if you care about your students, then you’re going to connect with them.
Interviewer: Do you think that’s the direction you’d like to take the choir? What personal spin are you putting on it?
Rancourt: In terms of making what I want for future choirs, I want to be able for them to feel confident going forward. I would love to do an alumni concert and have outreach programs through that, and build relationships that way.
Interviewer: Are there any upcoming events [readers] can know about?
Rancourt: October 2 is our fall concert, so I will be directing the Trombone Concert Choirs, and then assisting with some of them. Musicals are coming up too. We’re also very excited about that. November 20, 21, and 22.
Interviewer: Are you assisting in that too?
Rancourt: Yes. I’m Mr. Neubauer 2.0. You guys should check it out. It’s going to rock!
