I have been singing just about as long as I’ve been alive, and even though the trajectory of my music career turned from singing “Let It Go” as a toddler in my living room to my parents to singing classical pieces in the most beautiful cathedrals for many, music has never been something I’d consider giving up. Even though I’ve been singing as long as I have, music was typically on the back burner for me. An occasional song in the shower, or attempting tiktok singing challenges. However, this all changed when I moved back to Montgomery County, and begun my freshman year at Montgomery County Highschool, where I enrolled in the MCHS Treble Choir, led by Mr. Burnette. 

For me, the experience I had in the MCHS Treble Choir was life changing. Even while I am now a very proud member of the MCHS Honor Choir— I still gladly perform in both ensembles, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I believe that my personal passion for music would not have thrived as much as it has if it had not been for our director, Mr. Burnette. 

Thanks to Mr. Burnette, my passion for music was reignited after a multiple years long hiatus. As a freshman, I was very anxiety stricken with the thought of having to perform. I truly believed I would be judged, or ridiculed by the director and my peers, as had happened in the past. This was entirely not the case. In the MCHS Treble Choir, Mr. Burnette has set a “Come one, come all” mindset. No matter your skill level, or your confidence, or your passion, or you desire to continue with choir— None of it matters. Everyone is encouraging and truly supportive, and I believe this starts with a supportive and encouraging director, like Mr. Burnette. 

If not for the level of encouragement I have received from my choir family, I (along with others) would have quit much earlier on. But, due to Mr. Burnette’s overwhelming encouragement and support, as well as skill as a teacher, I have continued on with my choir career. This has given me the opportunity to perform at countless choral festivals, State and District Assessments, the KMEA conference, solos, All State Clinics, and the opportunity to perform around Europe in 2027. 

To the Montgomery County School Board, I’d like you to please consider keeping Mr. Burnette as choir director. Mr. Burnette not only encourages us, but pushes us to grow, and learn through our mistakes and our triumphs. Mr. Burnette’s leadership has allowed the choir to grow to entirely new levels, and not only in skills. The choir has fundraised thousands of dollars to put towards our expenses, along with our traditional King’s Island trip at the end of the year. Not only this, but since Mr. Burnette’s arrival, the choir has grown to a much larger scale— and it has continued to grow. However, if our director is terminated, many members have made the ultimate decision to leave the Montgomery County Highschool Choir. 

This would not only be detrimental to the survival of our choir, but to the survival of the arts as a community.— This would not only damage the community, but the mental stability and health of students as well. Statistically, students that participate in the arts are shown to have better mental health compared to those who do not, as shown in a briefing by the Social Biobehavioural Research Group. 

Please, consider signing this petition to keep not only our choir director, Mr. Burnette, but to keep the arts alive at Montgomery County Highschool. Similarly, please see the Art Club’s petition to keep funding for the MCHS Art Club. 

As Mr. Burnette says, “You’re either growing, or going.” And in the case of our choir director himself, We’d like for him to stay, so we can continue to grow.