The Vocal Music Department is proudly led by talented teachers and vocalists who carry the torch to the new population of growing vocalists. The choirs at Bellevue East are led by Marjore Simons-Bester, and Austin Hoffman

Simons-Bester did her undergraduate work at Midland Lutheran college in Fremont Nebraska, masters at theUniversity Of Northern colorado in Greeley, and did doctoral work at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Soon after, Bester started working at Bellevue East in August of 1992, and works with multiple vocal music groups.

“I direct freshman chorals, East High Singers, E Street Jazz all year long, mixed chorus second semester and assisted with belle voir and Take II. as necessary. I get all the music for the musical ,and I teach the college prep music theory class,” Bester said.

Working alongside Simons Bester: is Austin Hoffman as an assistant director. Hoffman went to Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, where he majored in music education. In 2019, Hoffman started working at Bellevue East, and directs some of the music groups. These groups include Belles Voix, Mixed Chorus, Sensations, and Take II.

“I teach vocal music, as well as encourage and motivate all students to be the best human they can be,” Hoffman said.

Simons Bester and Hoffman are also accompanied by Katherine Turner, the pianist for the vocal music department. Turner got her bachelor’s degree at UNO and then did her masters degree at the University of Missouri Kansas City conservatory of music. In August this year, Turner started working and playing at Bellevue East. Turner does a lot for the department. 

“I record all the practice tracks  for all the parts. So I record an individual track for each part and then sometimes I do all parts together and I record the piano part. I play for the rehearsals, obviously, and then whatever doc asks me to do, like copy music, keep track of all the music in our library, I help out with the apparel, dresses, add the stuff like that. Any odds and ends that need someone to look at.” Turner said.

With Simons Bester and Hoffman, there are students who help out in the vocal music department. The students who are chosen by the director are a part of the choir council. 

With the Bellevue East choir council, Abbie Jackson, a highschool senior, works with the music teachers and department. 

Abbie said “I really enjoy being in the department and being able to work with Doc and Hoffmann. Being in all these groups allows me to work with different types of people and different genres of music,”.

The teachers show how they take care and put love into their jobs and students. Both teachers and students still have to deal with precautions around the epidemic.

Simons Bester said “But I think Especially down here in the choir room i think people are adapting well, and I’m grateful that our students are as cooperative as they are so that we can continue to come back, but it is tiring physically, physically, and emotionally. It is definitely tiring but I am very grateful to be here for as long as we can,”.

Both teachers and students praise the vocal music department, which is well deserved for the work they do. This goes for both Simons Bester and Hoffman, who put a lot of time and effort into their job. 

“I love my job and being able to make music every day. I’m so lucky that I get to help shape the future of this world, and I’m so excited to get to the point where I see those who have graduated and what they become once leaving us,”said Hoffman.