HHS Choir Room Named After Gospel Choir Founder
May 21, 2019 -- The classroom used by the Vocal Music Department’s Choir and Men’s and Women’s Chorus groups has a new name: The William Tarter Choir Room. Mr. Tarter, a retired Heights High English teacher, served as the founding director of the Heights Gospel Choir.
In 1974, Mr. Tarter was approached by five students who wanted to sing gospel music after school. As more and more students joined them, Mr. Tarter helped formally establish the Gospel Choir as a chartered club, legitimizing the study and performance of gospel music as a worthy art form.
The Gospel Choir has performed in annual concerts since 1975 as well as at venues both locally and nationally. Mr. Tarter’s legacy lives on as the choir is currently directed by one of his former singers, Heights Career Tech teacher Sandra Dixon. School board members Beverly Wright, also a former member of the Gospel Choir, and Dan Heintz, who was a student in Mr. Tarter’s English class, announced the honor and presented him with a certificate at the April 18th Gospel Choir concert.