Gregoire was involved with WMU’s chapter of the American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA). Throughout her time with the ACDA, she served as an active member, secretary, vice president, and president. Gregoire was also engaged in all three classical choirs, the Gold Company vocal jazz program, and the Bronco Marching Band. It was these experiences that led her to take the position of choir director at Cityside Middle School in Zeeland, Mich.
According to Gregoire, a typical day as choir director consists of warm ups, what she calls ‘the pick of the day’, and of course, a lot of singing. She would know, as she directed four different middle school choirs in Zeeland last year. Gregoire used ‘the pick of the day’ to showcase things like important music, groups, quotes, and inspirational videos to her students.
“With the endless media out there today, I like to give them ways to hone in on the positive and educational media that they are able to access and enjoy,” Gregoire said. “Middle school is a group in which energy is key; as well as positivity. My choirs do a lot of moving and grooving when learning new music, so they not only know the notes, but feel it in their bodies.”
Recently, Gregoire accepted a new position as a neighborhood and in-school conductor for the Chicago Children’s Choir. This is the largest choral organization in the United States, serving over 3,500 students in the greater Chicago area. The choir was founded in 1956 during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, and they are committed to peacefully uniting a diverse world through education, musical expression, and excellence, says Gregoire.
A month long trip learning about music and culture in Cape Town, South Africa inspired Gregoire to take on this new experience. She notes that everything she learned about music’s role in other cultures was invaluable, and her life was forever changed as a musician by this international experience.
Gregoire says she would not be where she is today without the help of Dr. Dee Gauthier and Dr. Kimberly Dunn-Adams of the WMU School of Music. Gregoire says the two were instrumental in helping her develop as a musician as well as a strong woman.
“I cannot express how much I learned while attending Western and how wonderful it is to bump into alumni wherever I go - once a Bronco, always a Bronco!”
Posted by Stan Sulewski