Practice What You Teach Benefit Concert Contributors

Mrs. Shelly Riggs has been with the Logan Hocking School District since 1991. A graduate of The Ohio State University, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Science Education and a Masters of the Arts in Theatre Education. She is a Chekhov trained teacher and performer, as well as being trained in stage combat with the Society of American Fight Directors. Mrs. Riggs not only directs at Logan High School, but also performs as an actor and vocalist with various theatre groups. Her favorite ensemble role has been with Ohio University - Lancaster, where she was in Chicago the Musical, and her favorite acting role has been Gertrude in the LHS Thespian show, And Flights of Angels, an adaptation of Hamlet. Favorite directing credits include Next to Normal, Pirate Girl - an original script which she wrote, and Who Will Carry the Word? Mrs. Riggs will make her Columbus debuts in acting (April) and directing (this summer).

John M. McClain is the Director of Choirs at Logan High School and leads music in worship at Union Furnace United Methodist Church. John is a native of Logan and, now teaching grades nine through twelve, he directs six high school choral ensembles. As a graduate of Capital University, he sang in the Capital University Chapel Choir, Philomel - under the direction of Dr. Lynda Hasseler - and Chordsmen - under the direction of Mr. Craig Courtney. He acted as a tenor section leader and soloist in those ensembles. Now, John is regularly heard on professional choral music recordings from Beckenhorst Press, produced by Aire Born Studios. Some of John's solo ventures include performing the Star Spangled Banner for former President Barack Obama, singing as soloist in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, and various venues throughout Europe. He considers himself extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to make music every day, as his job, with the best young people in the world.

Gretchen Weber is the assistant director and accompanist for the Logan High School Choirs and the Director of Music at the First Presbyterian Church in Nelsonville, OH . This is her fourth year with the choirs, having graduated from Case Western Reserve University with her M.A. in Music Education and Teaching License in May of 2016, where she was a graduate teaching assistant for the CWRU’s auditioned and non-auditioned choral ensembles. She earned her B.A. in vocal performance from Saint Louis University in May of 2013. While receiving her degrees, Gretchen has accompanied, conducted, and sung in professional Baroque choirs, advanced college choirs, and children’s choirs in both St. Louis and Cleveland. Along with teaching and accompanying at the high school, Gretchen teaches middle school general music and sings in and accompanies Columbus-area church and community choirs, including Capital University’s Choral Union, under the direction of Dr. Lynda Hasseler.

Mrs. Larilyn Short has been teaching music in the Logan Hocking School district since 2002. After 11 years at the high school, she has been loving every minute of spending her days passing her love of music on to her elementary students at Green, Hocking Hills and Union Furnace Elementaries. She attended Fairmont State College (now University) where she studied voice but was also active in the concert and marching bands, the orchestra, the jazz band, the Percussion Ensemble as well as performing for various other groups and events on campus. She has three amazing kiddos, Koen (14), Stella (11) and Grady (5) who all also have a love for music. She has stage managed the Children's Chorus Productions of The Sound of Music and Annie and will be in the booth again this year for Frozen Jr.

Joseph J. McClain is the 3rd and 4th grade Intervention Specialist at Union Furnace Elementary. This is his second year teaching and first year teaching at Union Furnace. Joey loves his job at UF and feels privileged to work there. He graduated from Capital University in 2018 with a B.A. in Special Education. During his time there he was in the Capital University Chapel Choir, Chordsmen, Philomel, and took voice lessons with Dr. Dione Parker Bennett. Joey would like to thank the other performers for including him in this musical experience.