The high school choir continues to grow under the leadership of a director with a strong background in music education.
By JUSTIN NAVARRETE, Staff
SCHUYLER, Neb. (March 26, 2026)- Schuyler Central High school’s choir Director Morgan Semerad said, “I have always loved music, and singing has always been a part of my life.” In addition to choir, she has taught band and music, as well as private lessons. Her interest in teaching began when she was a student at Schuyler High school when a teacher allowed her to lead rehearsals.
According to the Semerad, the choir’s culture is constantly changing, because many of the choir members are also involved in the school band. “When students are involved in different ensembles, they become more well-rounded musicians,” she said.
Choir is described by students as a place where the culture feels open and friendly. Freshman Cassiel Jimenez, said, “It’s a very social place…”and added, “...Fun and I’ve made a lot of friends.”
Steven Rodriguez, a junior at Schuyler Central High School, also shared that it’s “very welcoming,” a feeling Jimenez agreed with.
One of the most rewarding parts of the job is watching students gain confidence. Semerad said, “It is rewarding to see students that often start off in high school as shy kids become outgoing soloists.”
Jimenez learned to feel more confident in choir. At first, he felt nervous to sing in front of others. “We act like a family supporting each other,” Jimenez said. This made him feel more confident, seeing how choir supports its members. He further explained that “Singing with other people” gave him a confidence that made him feel better about his voice.
Jimenez, hopes to see more gentlemen join the group. After the Winter Concert of 2025, he noticed that “You could hear the high ends but not the low ends,” meaning there weren’t enough lower voices to balance the sound. He believes that bringing in more male singers would help the choir “get a fuller sound” and make their performances stronger overall.
Looking ahead, the director hopes to continue growing the program. “I would love to see our choir program continue to grow,” Semerad said, along with increasing community performances. The choir continues to grow in Schuyler Central High School, bringing in more students each year. Jimenez shared his hopes for the program’s future by saying, “I hope the choir gets big enough that we need a bigger choir room.”
“I hope the choir gets big enough that we need a bigger choir room” Jimenez said.
The SCHS Choir performins during the 2025 Winter Choir Concert, showing their hard work. The choir sings under the direction of Semerad (Far right). Justin Navarrete.
