Choral maestro Art DeWeese joined the PTHS music department in 1995 as Director of Choral Activities. DeWeese has a Bachelors of Music Education and a Master’s of Music Education from Murray State University. In 2011, he was named the first Outstanding Fine Arts Alumni by Murray State University.
The list of personal and choral accomplishments is long and meritorious.
In 2000, DeWeese was named by the National Music Educators Journal as one of the most outstanding secondary choral directors in the nation. In 2003, he was presented the Kentucky Outstanding Secondary Teacher Award by MSU. In 1998, he was designated the Music Educator of the Year by the KMEA.
In his 17 years at PTHS, his choral groups have received a Distinguished Rating every year at the KMEA Performance Assessment. In 2011, the women’s a cappella group, Concordia, won the Lexington Catholic Voices of Harmony competition. In 2012, the PTHS Concert Choir performed a solo debut at Carnegie Hall. The choral groups have traveled to Europe five times in DeWeese’s tenure performing at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, and the Duomo di Mialano in Milan just to name of few.
And no school in Western Kentucky has had more vocalists accepted for the annual All State Choral performances that those from thePaducah Tilghman Choral Department.
“Art DeWeese is an incredible musical technician,” says PTHS Principal Art Davis. “What I admire the most is out of 17 years at Tilghman, Art never had a ‘rebuilding year.’ Every one of his choirs was as good as the previous one. So, when you ask which was his best choir, it’s impossible to answer that question. They were all absolutely excellent. That is the hallmark of an unequaled musical director. Art leaves a legacy that will long be remembered by his students and his peers.”
On May 20 at 3 pm at the Carson Center, DeWeese will conduct his final spring concert as director of the Paducah Tilghman choirs. The fare for the afternoon will include pieces by the award-winning concert choir, men’s choir, women’s choir, as well as the a cappella groups Concordia and Prime Rib. Several alumni soloists will also be on hand to perform one last time with DeWeese. Victor Mazzone, Jacob Waid, and Jennifer Poff are among the returning alumni performers.
The concert is free to the public. Reserved seats are available by contacting the Carson Center box office at 270-450-4444.
Article provided by Darlene Mazzone.
