Choir and band students brought the crowd to tears when they debuted a new choral piece, “Radiance,” for Principal Ron Abel’s retirement this spring.

“I think, particularly at the end of a career like his, he deserves a little spotlight.” choir director Allison Enneking said. “He said he was very touched and it meant a lot to him so it was good to know that. Our intention was to make him feel our gratitude and our admiration. I’m glad that that came across to him.”

The piece, which was adopted by the school board as an addition to the school’s alma mater, was professionally composed by a notable Kansan composer, Jacob Narverud.

The project combined curriculum, writing, arts and performance for the students to showcase their own talent while creating a special moment for Abel’s retirement.

English, choir and band students wrote about what they loved or would miss about high school, and then Narverud made their words into a poem. This poem ultimately turned into the beginning of the school’s existing alma mater.

Abel was surprised and impressed with the song. The students having a role in writing the lyrics was the part that meant the most to him, Abel said.

Part of the chorus reads:

Here’s to learning, here’s to growing, here’s to goals and here’s to song;

Here’s to friendship, here’s to laughter, here’s to knowing we belong.

Here’s to kindness, here’s to neighbors, here’s to strong community.

Here’s to comfort, here’s to caring, here’s to card’nal loyalty.

After the piece’s debut at the Music In Our Schools concert, Abel had the idea to implement the piece as an addition to the existing alma mater, Enneking said.

“The words really bring out the true feeling of what it means to be a Eudora High School student, and I think it brings a lot of power to the music that was composed,” Abel said.

The school song has always meant a lot to the student population and is always sung at sporting events and at other events, but the song was relatively short, Abel said.

By adding the new verses, it gives the song length, as well as some Eudora identity since it came from students’ own words. Abel said the music department had long conversations about expanding the song and he is grateful they were able to reach the point they were hoping for.

“Both the band part and the choral parts are so powerful and so inclusive and the composer put the rest of our alma mater in the third verse, so it’s really impressive when you hear it,” he said. “I’m just very thankful for our music department.”

Enneking, a friend of Narverud, said she and the students were lucky to work with one of the top choral composers in the country.

The three worked together to make sure the band, choir and lyrics could perform the debut performance successfully, all while hiding it from Abel.

Narverud even rehearsed the piece with students without Abel hearing anything about it. Band Director Damian Johnson said this was the best and most impactful part of the process because students got to hear about the process of composing the piece while rehearsing with a professional.

Enneking and Johnson doubted they could keep the song a total secret, especially if students told their parents what they were working on in class and it got back to administration.

“Ron is a fabulous principal, and he has his ear on everything that happens in that building,” Johnson said. “I was like, ‘He’s gonna find out about this. He has his ways he will find out.’ And for him to never have found out still amazes me to this day.”

For the seniors, this was one of the last things they did in high school and Johnson hopes students realize that this is something that is bigger than themselves because the song will remain in the community for years to come.

“It’s interesting because with, whether it be generations or civilizations or whatever, it’s the art. It’s the artwork that we see mostly that we go back to and we look at,” Johnson said.

The song represents a lot for the tight-knit community and serves as a reminder to the students, Enneking said.

“I do hope that it helps them remember that they do come from a really close knit, caring and supportive community,” she said.

At the June school board meeting, Superintendent Stu Moeckel discussed how sentimental the song had been.

“I’m not a crier, but I got really choked up when I watched this at the concert,” Moeckel said. “They really did an amazing job of tying it to our alma mater, and I don’t know that there was a dry eye in the house because it was just truly powerful.”

The board voted unanimously to approve the song at the June meeting.

Enneking wants to remind the community that the aim was not to change the alma mater but to honor the school and show appreciation for Abel. She hopes everyone takes the time to listen to the song and its lyrics.

“I trusted that they know our intention was to honor our community and honor our school and show our gratitude and admiration for Mr. Abel,” Enneking said.

Here are the song’s lyrics:

VERSE l:

When the twilight shadows gather over nearby corn fields green,

When the dark and endless night comes stealing out upon the scene,

Loyal peers of old Eudora, sing a song of love and praise

To our dear old Alma Mater and our joyful card’nal days.

CHORUS:

Here’s to learning, here’s to growing, here’s to goals and here’s to song;

Here’s to friendship, here’s to laughter, here’s to knowing we belong.

Here’s to kindness, here’s to neighbors, here’s to strong community.

Here’s to comfort, here’s to caring, here’s to card’nal loyalty.

Here’s to classmates, here’s to teachers, here’s to helpful leadership;

Here’s to fam’ly, here’s to coaches, here’s to pride in excellence.

Here’s to music, here’s to artwork, here’s to sacred Friday nights,

Here’s to cheering for our hometeam underneath bright stadium lights.

Here’s to teamwork, here’s to spirit, here’s to opportunities,

Here’s to trusting friendly faces and to lifelong memories.

Here’s to thee, our Alma Mater, this our joyful song shall be,

And the world will find us stronger for our treasured years with thee.

VERSE 2:

When the last big game is over and the final bell has rung,

When the hallways clear, all exams passed and the final verse is sung;

We’ll remember old Eudora in our tender thoughts again,

Grateful then for all the mem’ries and our time with high school friends.

BRIDGE:

Let us lift our song together, and proudly we shall sing,

May the echoes of our Radiance – Card’nal Radiance – ever ring:

ALMA MATER:

In a cozy little village, quiet and at rest

Stands a stately red brick building, dear old EHS

Hail, oh hail our Alma Mater, we all love thee best

And we’ll ever sing thy praises, dear old EHS

Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected]