Students honor retiring choir teacher with special music video

For over 30 years, Zola Jensen taught choir in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Last spring, when word spread that she would be retiring from her position at the high school at the end of the year, her current and former students wanted to honor the teacher that brought so much music into their lives.

According to local news, Jessie Wright, who graduated IFHS in 2007, had the idea to make a music video with just a few friends and send it to Jensen. One of those friends, Viola Moon, suggested adding classmates from other years who were interested.

Many former students credit Ms. Jensen as being the main reason they pursued music after they graduated.“It’s hard for her to know the impact that she has had for me personally,” Mark Zabriskie, who has toured all over the world in a Brigham Young University choir told local news “I don’t think [joining BYU Singers] would have happened without her choir. … I attribute that to Ms. J for taking a chance.”

The song, ‘You are the New Day’, was sent to students interested in participating in the project. They would then record themselves singing their part while watching a video of conductor Lucas Perry, who graduated in 2009 and is a choir conductor today.

After weeks of recording and editing, the gorgeous video was shown to Ms. Jensen. Needless to say, she was overwhelmed.

“You never think you are making that much of a difference,” she said. “I can honestly look at those kids and remember their names and the relationships. It was never about a choir. It was about each one of those kids individually. If I really made a difference in their life, my career was all worth it.”

You can watch the video below. Congratulations Ms. Jensen and we hope you’re enjoying your retirement. You’ve certainly earned it.