V is for Valedictorian and Graduation Pianist: My parents in high school. No. 21 of 26 posts in the April 2024 Blogging From #AtoZChallenge and a Monday #MusicMovesMe post for April 29. Theme, My Life: The Prequel (in Snapshots) — adding my parents’ story to the family history mix. Please join me on the journey.
My parents Norm and Peg (Laurence) Charboneau each made a unique mark in high school – graduating with academic degrees that prepared them for college.
Dad, who lived in the Adirondack community of Otter Lake, N.Y., was the first to graduate in 1942 — and he did so with honors from Forestport Central School.
Valedictorian: Dad leads his class
Dad was the valedictorian of his senior class, and his various high school achievements received a nice write-up in the local paper.
I knew Dad did well in school – but I was surprised to learn that he was also a high school athlete, playing basketball (four years) and baseball (two years).
In addition, Das was a member/president of the student senate, treasurer of the senior class, and director of the senior play — plus he won a Latin prize two years in a row and was a Boy Scout for three-and-a-half years. Busy indeed! But alas, there was no high school yearbook for his small school.
Mom balances music & other activities
Mom excelled in music, her chosen vocation, while attending Gloversville High School. Her high school years were also busy, as shown in her yearbook summary below.
As you’d expect, she was involved in musical endeavors (Band, Orchestra, Choir, String Quartet).
Yet she also found time for team-spirited and social activities (Library Club, Bowling, Senior Sweater and Jacket Committee, Oracle yearbook committee, and work on the Football Handbook).
Graduation pianist: Mom takes the stage
Mom’s graduation ceremony was held at the Glove Theatre in downtown Gloversville, N.Y. — an event that was written up in the Gloversville-Johnstown Morning Herald on June 23, 1943.
Amid the pomp and circumstance of marching onto the stage with 180 fellow graduates, Mom was honored to be tapped for a musical performance during the ceremony (she is Margaret Laurence in the clip above).
With another female classmate, Mom played a difficult piano duet titled “Allegro—from Concerto in D Minor” by Mozart. Mom was also awarded a laurel “G” pin by the Student Council.
To give you an idea of how Mom’s duet sounded, below is a contemporary video of the full concerto, including the shorter Allegro movement she played at graduation.
My parents’ personal trajectories
My parents did not meet until college, but they each followed a personal trajectory to get there.
Clearly, they trusted that their talents and inclinations would ultimately lead them to gratifying careers. And if they could also meet a life partner and start the family they both wanted, so much the better.
Now we will fast forward to right after my parents’ marriage, when they began their life journey together.
Up next, W is for Washington, D.C., honeymoon. Please stop back! Meanwhile, please visit the other #MusicMovesMe bloggers by clicking on the link below.
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