'I think I'm going to cry.' Ashland Choir Director Kim Wolbert to lead her last May Fiesta
ASHLAND - While talking about this year's upcoming May Fiesta, Kim Wolbert and Ann Van Scoy had similar reactions.
"You're going to make me emotional," said Van Scoy, longtime stage director and choreographer of the Ashland High School tradition.
"I think I'm going to cry," said Wolbert, director of AHS choirs, which puts on the annual May Fiesta performance.
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When the choir students take the stage in Archer Auditorium at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 14 and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15, it will be Wolbert's last May Fiesta.
She is taking a new job in music ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ashland at the end of her eighth year at AHS.
"I feel really blessed for my time here," Wolbert said. "I have had an amazing experience in Ashland. The kids have been my life."
With a 4-year-old daughter, Wolbert, 40, wants a job with a little more flexibility.
So Wolbert, her good friend Van Scoy and the rest of the AHS choir program want to make this year's May Fiesta extra special.
It also will be the first "normal" May Fiesta since 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled it in 2020 and last year's was limited at the Guy C Myers Memorial Band Shell in Brookside Park.
"Losing that year made us realize how important May Fiesta is, so last year we were going to do anything to have it," Wolbert said. "This year it's great to have a normal one again, so we can do all the traditions that come with May Fiesta."
May Fiesta has many traditions
Girls wearing formal prom dresses, having the seniors (there are 36 this year) each walk across the stage while the rest of the choir sings and a senior slide show is shown to honor them and the a cappella boys doing a vaudeville dance routine are some of the traditions Van Scoy has enjoyed with May Fiesta not only as a choreographer and stage director for several choir directors but also as a participant when she attended AHS.
"The a cappella guys are always a little reluctant when they have to learn the dance," said Van Scoy, who has taught dance at the Ashland YMCA and the Richland Academy of the Arts. "Once they master it, they are pretty excited about it."
The a cappella boys dance, which gets faster and faster as it goes, is the main reason her father attends, said Wolbert, like Van Scoy, an AHS grad who also participated in May Fiesta as a student.
Other traditions include starting the event, which has been going on for almost 60 years, with the song "All Hail to May Fiesta" and ending with all 200-plus choir members singing.
Performing traditional songs that will be used at contest for the first half of the show and focusing on the theme (this year it's Road Trip) with lights, media, dancing, costumes and more pop music during the second part of the show are other traditions.
Ashland High School choir students looking forward to a 'normal' May Fiesta
The choir students are looking forward to being a part of the May Fiesta tradition, maybe even more than years past.
"Even though last year was amazing, it still wasn't the May Fiesta we pictured for ourselves," said senior Rachel Robison. "But this year, we are putting it in high gear to bring all the May Fiesta energy and song we can."
Fellow senior Andrew Pascarella also was grateful for the unique May Fiesta experience last year at the Band Shell, and is happy it will be back inside this year.
"This year's theme of traveling opens the door for many styles of songs, from modern pop to classic pop and country to Latin. The show has a song for everybody's tastes," Pascarella said. "May Fiesta will not be all happy, however, as Ashland High School has to say goodbye to Mrs. Wolbert."
Pascarella said Wolbert has poured her soul into making choir the best if can be for so many students, and has touched numerous students' lives during her years as a choir director.
She is always available for students who are having a rough time and need someone to talk to, said Robison, adding Wolbert makes learning fun.
When students interact with Wolbert, Van Scoy said, she sees Wolbert's passion for teaching and how beautifully she connects with them.
"She is this loving presence of goodness in so many of the students' lives," Van Scoy said. "She has great expectations and teaches them character and sharing their voices and talents."
As much as they are going to miss her, Wolbert's students, as well as Van Scoy and the rest of her May Fiesta team, are happy she will be able to spend more time with family while still working in music.
Working in Trinity Lutheran Church's music ministries
Ron Marenchin, coordinator of music ministries at Trinity Lutheran, said he is looking forward to working with Wolbert, who, with her husband, Dave, has been involved part time in the Trinity music ministry for many years.
Now she will be working full time as a music minister, being in charge of the music for two of the church's services while Marenchin handles the other two. With her talent, other duties are expected to follow, Marenchin said.
As an avid follower of May Fiesta, musicals and other music-related events at AHS, Marenchin said the school district's successful music programs are results of hard work and the ability of leaders like Wolbert to get the best out of the students.
"It has been a dream come true," said Wolbert, who led the choirs at Mapleton, Hillsdale and Waynedale for short stints before coming to her alma mater eight years ago. "The community is just so supportive of the program and the administration is so supportive of the program.
"It has been so much fun to be a part of it," she added.
May Fiesta ticket information
All tickets to May Fiesta are $5 a person. They are sold at the AHS main office and three businesses in Ashland: Farm & Home Hardware, Irwin's Office Supply and Mike's Music. They also will be at the door, which opens an hour before each performance.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: AHS Choir Director Kim Wolbert prepares extra special May Fiesta
