Appreciation for Judy Leaman

Judy Leaman, Choir Manager of the SVCC for fifteen years, has taken another job with the EMU business office as of February 1, 2010. She will be working in the EMU business office as cashier with no evenings, weekends, or trips that the choir has required.

“At this season of my life, I am ready to have a job with less responsibility that doesn’t require evening and weekend hours. I have loved working with Julia and the SVCC staff as well as all the wonderful families and children I have learned to know over the years. I know I will miss you all very much, but feel that this is the right time for the transition”.

How many times have we heard or spoken the sentence: “I don’t know; ask Mrs. Leaman” over the past 15 years? During that time, Judy has been an extraordinary organizer, a loyal friend, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a firm voice, and a calming presence as part of the SVCC staff.

We asked Judy some questions about her years with the SVCC:

Q: How did you get involved with the choir?

A: When our son Jared joined the choir, I sat in rehearsal to see what was happening and Julia started asking me to do things to help. Soon, I became Prep Choir Parent Assistant.

Q: What were your first jobs as an employee?

A: I first started with just a few hours/week. I copied the notes and kept track of the tuition payments, along with attending rehearsal and helping where needed. From 1996-1997 I worked 12 hours/week and from 1997-2000 I worked 20 hours/week. In 2000 I started working full time. At that time I worked from home, using my own computer and filing space.

Q: When did the SVCC first get an office?

A: EMU gave us office space in the Weaver House on Mt. Clinton Pike in 2001. I think we were there one year before we moved to Roselawn.

Q: How did the job grow and change over the years?

A: At first Brent Holl (Choir President at the time) kept track of the mailing list, snack list, attendance, etc., but I soon took over those things. I remember setting up our database (with the help of Gayle Driver) and I started compiling the notes after several years. The number of choristers kept increasing, so there were more things to keep up with and more parents to communicate with. We also started going on bigger trips which took a lot of organization.

Q: Did you ever think you would be working professionally with a choir?

A: No, it never occurred to me that I would do something like that. However, I have always loved music and children, so it was a good fit for me.

Q: What qualities are important for a choir manager to be successful?

A: I think attention to detail and the ability to communicate and work well with people are the most important things.

Q: What was your biggest pleasure?

A: Several things: 1) The opportunity to learn to know so many wonderful children and their families, and work with them over a long period of time. 2)The opportunity to grow in my knowledge of good music and experience many fabulous performances by the SVCC and other choirs from all over the world.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories from the job?

A: Even though the trips were a lot of work, they are what allowed me to learn to know the children and parents more intimately. The trips to Italy, Hawaii, New York City, Florida, North Carolina, West Virginia, and various places in Virginia were all exciting and memorable. On trips I was able to discover what the children were really like, especially if they were always really quiet and reserved in rehearsal.

Q: Any funny stories worth sharing that we might not know about? Any quiet, rewarding stories to share?

A: I remember going on my first trip with the choir to Northern Virginia and realizing how good the SVCC really sounded when compared to another choir. Over the years of traveling with the choir, I kept expecting to hear other choirs that sounded better or were more “polished” than ours, but I never did. I heard some very good choirs, but I always thought that the SVCC definitely had more sparkle and presence!

In the early years when our daughter, Janelle, was in the choir she helped me make the sparkle awards. One time she made one for Ms. White because she said “Ms. White is the one who makes us all sparkle!”

Q: What are your next chapters and what are you going to be doing?

A: I am working as the cashier in the Business Office at EMU, still with children – just a little older ones. I love working with people of all ages, and I’m with people all day every day now. This job is 35 hours a week which gives me every other Friday off so I can take more trips with my husband Jay to Indiana to see my little granddaughter.

Q: Tell us about your new granddaughter!

A: Sophia Marie Leaman was born September 10, 2009, to our son Jared and his wife Addie. They live in Indiana, so I’m grateful for facebook which allows us to keep up with new pictures and videos as Sophia grows and changes very quickly.

From Judy:
The SVCC has been a very special part of my life the past 15 years, and I’m grateful to you, Julia, for allowing me to share in the unique experiences that make up the choir. I’ll never forget all the wonderful people I’ve learned to know and love through the choir! I can’t wait to sit back and enjoy a concert without any responsibilities (I’ll still be watching for sparklers)!

We invite and encourage choristers, families, and alumni to let Mrs. Leaman know what she has meant through writing a note of appreciation. Judy has always said that cards and notes have been the most meaningful gifts. You may address notes to Judy Leaman, SVCC, EMU, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22802.