May 23, 2016

 

 

 

Joy Hope is retiring as Granbury High School choir director at the end of the 2015-16 school year, after completing her 24th year of teaching in Granbury ISD.

 

For the choir’s spring concert, the booster club commissioned a choral arrangement of “My Old Kentucky Home” with the song performed by current students and several alumni returning for Hope’s final concert, which included the retiring director leading the group in the traditional “Bless Us This Day” to close the concert.

 

 

 

Hope became the head choir director in 2008, when long-time leader Duncan McMahan stepped down. She also served as the high school’s fine arts department head.

 

During her tenure, GHS consistently earned sweepstakes honors for multiple ensembles – a record the choir has maintained since 1987.  This year, five of six groups from GHS and Crossland Ninth Grade Center received the top recognition with Division I superior ratings in both concert and sightreading competition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She also helped direct several choir musicals including most recent productions of My Fair Lady, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Brigadoon, Beauty and the Beast, The Pajama Game, and Pippin. 

 

A Kentucky native, Hope was a member of the Kentucky All-State Choir in addition to being selected to represent her state in America’s Youth in concert during a U.S. and European tour in 1976.  She received her undergraduate degree in music education with honors from the University of Louisville and later earned a Master in Music in vocal performance and pedagogy from Texas Christian University, where she also taught in the preparatory department.

 

Hope has performed as a soloist at numerous college, church, and community events all over the country. She also has served as the organist for Acton Baptist Church.