John Tyner returns to MHS to lead choirs after unexpected death of teacher

On Sept. 30, Monroe High School choir director and teacher Cate Windelborn, 54, died unexpectedly. She had been at MHS for more than 17 years.

MHS counselors offered support to grieving students and staff. Administrators brought in therapy dogs. Then they asked John Tyner to temporarily lead Windelborn’s choirs.

Tyner had been the MHS choir director for 29 years, retiring in 2005. He also leads the John Tyner Chorale at St. Paul United Methodist Church, where he's the director of music.

“I said yes right away,” Tyner of Monroe said.

For the last two weeks, Tyner has been at MHS for the first three hours of the school day. He works with a combined 45 students in two choirs, including his granddaughter.

“I’m 76 years old, and I’ve been retired for 18 years," Tyner said. "It’s a little challenging to get back into the saddle and do it again, but I’m very honored to be able to come in and help them get through a very tragic time.”

Tyner is preparing Windelborn’s choirs — Concert Choir and Generations of Sound — for tonight’s MHS Fall Choir Concert, to be held at 7 p.m. in the MHS auditorium. Many MHS choir alumni are expected to return to remember Windelborn.

"There was a post on Facebook. It’s getting lots and lots of response. Lots are coming," Tyner said.

The concert will include a tribute to Windelborn, featuring a song she recently taught her students.

“All the kids combined will sing ‘Celebrate Life.’ It’s a brand-new piece she taught this year. It celebrates life and being positive and hopeful for the future. It’s in honor and memory of Cate and very appropriate,” Tyner said.

Concert Choir also will sing “Song for the Mira” and “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” Generations of Sound also will sing “Bring Me a Little Water, Sylvie” and the novelty song “The Argument.” One piece will feature flute, played by a member of the MHS band. Another will include percussion played by a choir member.

Tyner found the choirs well-prepared for tonight's concert.

“They pretty much knew their music. We refined some things," he said. "The kids are doing well and are accepting of me. They have been very open to my teaching style. We’re having a good time."

Tyner said the students are coping with Windelborn's death.

“They are grieving. It was such a tragedy," Tyner said. "They are doing a lot better than I anticipated. Kids are very resilient."

Tyner had known Windelborn since 2004, when he hired her for Monroe Public Schools.

“She was a very warm person. Having no children of her own, (the students) were her kids. She was a lot of fun. She was positive with the kids and very encouraging,” Tyner said.

Windelborn also sang in the John Tyner Chorale for 18 years.

“Up until this fall. She decided to take a year off because she was very busy,” Tyner said.

Tyner is not sure how long he’ll be at MHS.

“It’s open-ended. They have posted the position," Tyner said. "Hopeful we can get a full-time director for the benefit of the kids."

This is the second time Tyner returned to MHS since retiring.

“I went back the second year after I retired. The wife of the person who replaced me was sick,” Tyner said.

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Windelborn was the daughter of Martha (Seifert) Windelborn and the late William Windelborn. She attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Central Michigan University, where she earned a master of music degree in choral conducting. She taught choral music for 26 years.

Windelborn also directed the choir at Christ Lutheran Church and performed in music theater orchestra.

A Cate Windelborn Memorial Scholarship has been established at MHS. Her family said a large-scale memorial service will be held later.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: John Tyner returns to MHS to lead choirs after unexpected death of teacher