Mrs. Kirkpatrick is an influence to many young minds in Spring Grove. She is an encouraging teacher, kind individual and loving mother. I personally was given the blessed opportunity to interview her on the past and present of her life and time at Spring Grove. Here are her responses:
Q: Who are we with?
A: Abigail Kirkpatrick
Q: What classes do you teach?
A: Chorus, Concert Choir, String Orchestra and Vocal Studio
Q: What was the first instrument you played?
A: Piano in First Grade
Q: What was the first award you personally received in music?
A: I was in a couple audition groups York Junior symphony Middle School, York Junior symphony (High School level of that) and I was voted as most musical for Senior Superlatives while in school.
Q: When did you decide to be a choir teacher?
A: In middle school I told my middle school choir director I wanted the same job as him because it looked really fun; So more specifically it was around 8th grade.
Q: When did you decide to be a string orchestra teacher?
A: When I was in the Youth Symphony that I mentioned around my 11th or 12th grade year I believe I wanted to. It made me fall in love with what music could sound like; Additionally, violin is my main instrument I spend my time practicing.
Q: What’s your favorite instrument?
A: Violin
Q: What’s your two favorite songs sang between the three choirs this year?
A: You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch or Chile Con Carne (vocal jazz pieces done with Expressions)
My other favorite one is My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord that concert choir is doing right now; I like spirituals a lot.
Q: What’s your favorite song you’ve ever personally sang in a choir?
A: We also did a lot of Moses Hogan songs in my High School. I think my choir director also really liked his stuff. We did do Mary Had a Baby back in my high school; I liked that it was challenging but I really enjoyed it at the same time.
Q: What’s the first award you won for a music group you direct?
A: My second year teaching here we did Oklahoma as our musical and I was the Vocal Director. This was for the York County Encore awards and we actually won and I remember being very proud of that.
“There’s a totally unique experience working on a song as a group of people. You really cannot recreate making music together as a group.”
