Concord Chorale honors founder of Concord Community Music School with scholarship
By Katelyn Sahagian
The first Peggy Senter Scholarship at the Concord Community Music School is going to seventh-grade singer Raegan Wolfe, who has been a part of choirs at the music school for seven years and is going to be a member of the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE) National Conference Choir.
When Peggy Senter, the founder of the Concord Community Music School, retired in the summer of 2021, the Concord Chorale wanted to do something to honor her legacy, said Chorale president Elibet Chase. The group landed on the idea of a scholarship to the Concord Community Music School.
“It’s great to support an upcoming singer who is taking lessons at the school and to grow the young singing population,” Chase said. “We really want to find ways to make younger singers aware and consider choral music.”
Chase said that it was important to the chorale to show support to the school because of how the music school had helped the chorale over the years. In addition to holding practices and shows for the chorale, the school lent the chorale equipment to rehearse with while the pandemic was raging.
Chase added that Senter always came to the chorale’s performances and took a special interest in all music being performed in the area.
“Peggy Senter came to all of our concerts, never missed one,” said Chase, adding that the community music school has always been there for the chorale. “It’s really just a great relationship of support.”
Kathy Lundahl, the dean of students and educators at the music school, said the arts community in Concord is very close knit. Since Concord Community Music School was started, Lundahl said, its mission has been to provide musical education to people of all abilities and from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
When Lundahl heard that the chorale wanted to offer a scholarship to vocalists, she was extremely excited.
“I think it’s really heartwarming,” Lundahl said. “The school has had a lot to do with quietly building an important musical community in Concord. This [scholarship] is a perfect example of keeping that going and moving forward.”
The major requirement for the scholarship from the chorale was that it goes to a vocal student who seemed likely to continue learning and performing at the school. Chase said that beyond that, the chorale wanted the school to choose the students.
Lundahl said that the school looked at need as well as students who were excelling in the vocal field. A team of teachers and accompanists was brought together to discuss who would be the best applicant.
Chase said that the group made the right choice in Raegan based on her love of music and also her dedication to performing, as well as her patience with younger singers.
“She’s just a really cool student,” Chase said. “Not only is she really enthusiastic about her own singing and what it means in her life … she’s also always been nurturing of younger kids. One instructor gave an example of how she worked and performed with a student to keep her from being nervous.”
Raegan said that she doesn’t believe that she wants to be a professional musician when she grows up, but instead thinks she might want to study music in college to become a choir teacher. She added that some of the most important people in her life have been her choir and voice teachers.
“I think it would be fun to sing and teach,” Raegan said. “I just really like being around younger kids…. It’s so interesting to hear how voices change and how they have so much fun and energy.”
Raegan is extremely thankful to be the first recipient chosen for this scholarship. She said she wanted to “thank everyone at the school and everyone who has helped me … encouraged me and given me confidence.”
Featured photo: Raegan Wolfe. Photo courtesy of Elibet Chase.
