Ruthie Hughes, a Choral Director/Teacher/Vocal Performer since graduating in 1976 from University of Louisiana at Monroe, has been teaching at White Oak HS & MS since 2002.
R Vinson and Granddaughter Lilly
Upon graduating in ’76 with a Bachelor’s Degree in every grade level Music Education, I taught in Louisiana for 5 years in grades K-12. I began raising my children at home for several more years. During all of that time, I was Minister of Music at a church in Shreveport, La. for 4 yrs, and then changed church positions to Associate Minister of Music at a much larger church in Shreveport. We moved to East Texas in 1985, where I became a “stay-at-home” Mom with 2 little ones and in 1988 my third child came. I certainly had my hands full!!! I didn’t go back to teaching full-time again until 1997 following the unexpected cancer and subsequent death of my 1st spouse. I taught 2 years with the Tatum HS & MS Choirs, then 2 yrs. with Carthage Intermediate – JH Choirs, then began teaching at White Oak in 20o2.
Our choirs have developed, over the years, into superior quality performing groups. We have consistently received Sweepstakes and 1st Division Ratings with our choirs at UIL Concert/Sight-Reading Contests, for both the MS and HS programs. We have sweepingly dominated the 1A-2A-3A schools with earning Gold and Silver Medals at the UIL Texas Solo and Ensemble STATE level. Furthermore, we have been fortunate enough to have had selected 4 outstanding White Oak Choir students, who were chosen to receive the prestigious title of “Outstanding Vocal Performer Award” by their judge. This honor is only given to 1 vocalist per STATE Solo Judge. This honor would be equivalent in stature to making the Texas All-State Choir.
We are always high in our percentages of students selected as members of each year’s All-Region Choirs; and as these HS students continue in their level of auditions toward State, we have succeeded in placing 5 students in the renown Texas All-STATE Choir. On the flip side of that, over the last 9 years of auditions, we have placed 10 students in the STATE level MS Honor Choir at the TCDA Convention in San Antonio.
We have traveled with our MS Choirs to Dallas for competing in a Music Festival and enjoying 6 Flags over Texas. EVERY year since 2002, we have earned 1st Division Trophies in our concerts, and over the last 5 yrs., have ALSO earned the “Best-in-Class” Trophy awarded to the outstanding choir in our class, at the contest. With members of our HS Choir, we have traveled now twice to New York and Washington D.C. to perform on the famous USS Intrepid Ship, Ground Zero, WWII Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and Iowa Jima Memorial.
As you can see, we are fortunate and blessed to have consistently earned the greatest of honors in our contests. I truly believe that White Oak ISD DOES have the finest talented individuals walking their halls every day, not only in Choir and the Fine Arts, but in Athletics and in Academics. They are second-to-none; and I am glad to be a part of it! So if you haven’t made up your mind yet to join one of these Choir classes, contact me today by calling extension 2051. (903-291-2051)
There’s No Better Time Than The Present To Enjoy Life Through Music!