The music department at R.F. Staples School will have a void to fill after a long-time music teacher departs at the end of the December.
Eight-year R.F. Staples vet Anne-Marie Switzer, who is a trained opera singer, will leave her post to focus on her own musical endeavours.
“That career is sort of resurfacing again and I want to go and pursue it and see what comes of it as many opportunities continually come my way,” Switzer said.
“I sing classical music. The current thing I’m involved in is a chamber choir called Chronos Vocal Ensemble. I’ve been performing with them since September and have done many concerts and things with them.”
The Qu’Appelle, Sask. native joined the staff at R.F. Staples in 2008 after teaching for two years in her home province. She said the decision to leave was one of the toughest she’s ever made.
“It was a long decision, I definitely didn’t make it sporadically. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time,” she said.
“My husband and I have had many conversations about whether it was the right thing to do and if it was the right time. It kind of ended up being that it’s never the right time.”
While Switzer said she isn’t sure exactly what her future holds after her after her departure from R.F. Staples, her career so far is well decorated.
“I’ve sang for the Queen, I’ve been a backup vocalist for Joni Mitchell, I’ve been the featured alto soloist to sing with the Regina Symphony Orchestra,” Switzer explained.
“I’ve been a feature soloist with the Saskatoon Philharmonic Chorus … nothing too flashy since I’ve been here in Alberta other than singing at the cathedrals and with Chronos.”
Principal Courtney Lawrance said it will be tough for the school to lose an incredibly talented teacher like Switzer.
“She’s obviously one-of-a-kind. She rebuilt these programs that had kind of dwindled down and she’s rebuilt them into vibrant programs,” Lawrance said.
“We’re lucky that we’ve found a good replacement … but you really can’t replace one person with another because there’s always a different flair of flavour with it.
“It’s a definite loss to our school, but she has such tremendous talent — it would be wrong of us not to share her gift with a broader audience.”
It wasn’t just administration that was singing praises, as her students were very sad to learn of her departure.
“It was very hard and sad, but good because she talks about us pursuing our dreams all the time, and so she’s leading by example that way,” said student Cherise Boraski.
R.F. band member Mina Kwan credits Switzer as an influence and motivator.
“She pushes me in every way, but it’s never the kind where I feel like I’m going to give up,” Kwan said.
“It’s never feeling like I can’t. She’s there every step of the way to make sure that I know I can and she knows I can.”
Boraski also credits Switzer as a motivator for pursuing her own musical interests.
“Without her there to push me and help me out, I wouldn’t have wanted to continue to pursue singing,” he said.
Also factored into Switzer’s decision was her husband’s career as a freelance bassist.
“He’s a country musician, a bass player. He’s won two Canadian Country Music Awards … and he’s very versatile and plays all kinds of genres of music,” she said.
“He’s really busy all the time playing. He’s played with Dallas Smith, Jason Blaine, Deric Ruttan, and High Valley.”
Looking back on her 10-year teaching career, Switzer said it’s the students she will always remember.
“The kids and just the relationships I’ve built with them. I refer very fondly to them as my babies because I don’t have any children of my own,” she said.
“I couldn’t imaging having my own kids because it would take away from these kids … it’s all the great music and fun collaboration.
“It’s just to fun to see kids discover music and I’ve been able to inspire that.”
Despite being disappointed, the R.F. Staples community had nothing but good wishes for Switzer.
“We’re really sad, we’ll miss you dearly, but I’m really happy she’s pursuing her dreams,” Boraski said.
“It’s really a family here at R.F. so when someone leaves, it’s a loss,” Lawrance said.
“We hope to see her on TV, on iTunes, and we know she’s going to be successful. We just look forward to everything that life has to bring for her.”
