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March 28, 2024 8:35 am
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New Faculty Making Music Now At Moapa Valley High School

By CHARLENE PAUL

Moapa Valley Progress

New MVHS band and guitar teacher Ted Biggs.

Moapa Valley High School (MVHS) has a long, rich, and proud musical tradition. And this year, there are two new music teachers at the helm looking to keep that tradition on course.

Last year was the last for long-time MVHS music teacher Kim Delgadillo. For the last several years, Delgadillo had been teaching both band and orchestra programs. This year, the school has divided those two programs between two teachers. And new programs are being added. Ted Biggs will be taking over the reigns of the MVHS band program. He will also teach a guitar class. Jill Laub will be teaching orchestra and a newly restored choir program at the school.

Biggs comes from Las Vegas. He said that coming to work in the Moapa Valley community has been a positive step for him. “I can’t say enough good things about being here in the valley,” he said during an interview last week. “Every day is great. The kids are friendly, people say good morning. It makes it easy to enjoy doing what I do.”

This year’s band program boasts 130 students across three different ensembles. That is a thriving program for a school of only about 560 students. And all indications seem to point to the fact that the future is bright for the school’s band program.

“I really appreciate Mr. Burgess from the middle school,” Biggs said. “His band program is getting stronger and that will make our band program stronger. We got 41 freshmen this year, and next year it looks like we will get at least 35 more.”

At a rehearsal of the pep band last week preparing for Friday’s big game, band members gathered in the school cafeteria. The noise level while the students tuned their instruments and warmed up was ear-piercing and chaotic.

When Biggs called the noisy band to order, the students stood awaiting his nod to begin. Their practice rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” was wonderful.
“We are celebrating being citizens of this great country,” Biggs told the students before beginning. “We want it to be big!”

On Friday night, the band played, the crowd cheered, and the team brought home a win over Green Valley High School. “I see the band as a uniting force between sports, the community, and the school,” Biggs said. “This is going to be an outstanding year.”

New MVHS orchestra and choir teacher, Jill Laub.

The choir program at MVHS became a casualty of CCSD budget cuts about ten years ago. But this year, funding was made available to provide a half-time music teacher to cover orchestra, choir, and a music appreciation class. Finding someone who could teach such a diverse schedule was not easy.

But Jill Laub is no stranger to these programs. She is also not a stranger to the MVHS halls. She is a graduate of MVHS herself. Back then, she sang in the choir that was then directed by her mother, Gaye Nelson. She also played in the orchestra.

After graduating from high school, Jill attended SUU in Cedar City for two years. After a break from college, she went back and finished her degree at DSU in St. George.
“I just graduated this year,” she said. “I’m so excited!”

In order to give the students more options, two choir classes were offered. “I have eight students in one class and twelve in the other,” Jill explained. “Both classes are doing the same music and then we will combine for our performances. We are small right now, but we are building a solid foundation so we can grow.”

When asked how it felt to have her daughter step into her shoes as MVHS choir director, Nelson was quick to answer. “She is not in my shoes; she is her own person and will take the program her own way,” Nelson said. “But I see her enthusiasm for the music and for the students. She cares about all levels, no matter where they’re at. She can teach them all. I’m very proud of her.”

Listening to the orchestra practice was a treat. “They only gave me one orchestra class this year,” Jill said. “So, there are varying levels. For them to be at this point in the year is amazing.”

As the interview neared a close, Jill pointed out a smaller chamber group of about 10 kids rehearsing on their own out in the hallway. “I pulled out some of the more advanced students and created a little chamber group,” Laub said. “They’re going to play more advanced music.”

Jill emphasized that her main focus is building a strong foundation in music, theory, history, and technique so that the school orchestra can play a “well-rounded diversity of music.”

“If my students can leave my classroom with a passion for music, that is all I can hope for,” Jill said.

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