Music director takes program in new direction

December 2, 2009

By Brenda Rader Mross

The Wellington

As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is music to the ear of the listener.

“Music is not a fact or a thing in the world, but a meaning…,” wrote Thomas Clifton in his 1983 book “Music as Heard.” Clifton further classified music as “an ordered arrangement of sounds and silences whose meaning is presentative (immediately knowable) rather than denotative (by dictionary definition).”

Wellington (Colorado) Middle School’s new music director Jill Palfreeman offers her own description: “Music is emotional, personal.”

Palfreeman took the baton from Linda Anderson, who retired in May after 33 years as music director at Wellington Junior High School. Anderson is now directing the Choice City Singers and organizing a studio of her own.

“I wish her all the success in the world,” said Anderson. “I miss the day-to-day contact with the children.”

Palfreeman, a graduate of Rocky Mountain High School, said Anderson has an awesome reputation.

“She was great with the kids,” Palfreeman said. “Considering the huge amount she did, I knew the transition would be difficult. I also knew I couldn’t imitate her exactly, but I am trying to keep things as much the same as possible.”

Both agree the timing couldn’t be better. Palfreeman’s first year coincides with that of Wellington’s reconfiguration as a middle school.

“It’s worked out perfectly,” Palfreeman said. “With two new grades of kids — sixth- and seventh-graders — only the eighth-graders had certain expectations and were somewhat resistant. They have warmed up and are starting to have fun.”

The thing that had them “a little bit upset,” according to Palfreeman, is the decision not to do an annual musical production.

“It was in everyone’s best interest,” she said. “It didn’t feel like a smart decision to try to do something beyond their level when we are working on the basics of learning to read music and I’m trying to put my feet on the ground.”

Palfreeman said she was prepared to produce a musical if that’s what the administration expected, but after discussing the matter with WMS Principal Alicia Durand, both agreed to let it go. For now.

“Who knows?” she said. “I like to do things that are going to be successful. Right now, though, there are plenty of opportunities already (for doing musical theater) through other organizations.”

Palfreeman has her hands full with three band classes (one for each grade level), two choirs (seventh and eighth grade), a mixed-grade-level orchestra, and a general music exploration course for sixth-graders.

“I started playing the flute in seventh grade when everyone else did,” she said of her own introduction to music at Webber Junior High. “I liked it because it was shiny and lightweight, but I found out I was a natural.”

Because she also “loved every moment in school,” she set her sights on becoming a music teacher and graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana in May.

Over spring break during her final semester, the 22-year-old decided to “come home” to Colorado to look for a job, hoping, but not really believing she’d get hired by Poudre School District.

“It’s cool the way things fell into place,” she said. “I decided to go around and introduce myself at PSD. The next thing I know I’m coming over to Wellington to talk to Dr. Durand,” who wasn’t even interviewing yet.

That didn’t stop Palfreeman. She said she liked Wellington so much that she called Durand every couple of weeks.

“I’m sure Dr. Durand would say about me, ‘Jill’s persistent!’” Palfreeman said. “She is great...so supportive of the music department.”

Durand described her new music educator as “always positive, enthusiastic, full of new ideas, and very patient.”

She said Palfreeman went through a rigorous interview in order to get the position.

“Jill comes with vast experience from her college work and is originally from Fort Collins, so she understands the culture of Poudre School District,” Durand said. “She’s doing a wonderful job. She is well liked by students and staff, and the concerts have been well attended by parents and guardians.”

Born in California but raised in Fort Collins by parents Scott and Becky Palfreeman, Jill has a brother, Mark, 20. All three family members now live in Seattle, which was also on her job hunting list. English-born and bred Scott was the one who turned his daughter on to classic rock.

“There’s no such thing as favorites for me when it comes to music,” she claimed, but when pressed admitted to a fondness for Gavin DeGraw, a singer-songwriter whose vocal performances are promoted as “blues-tinged.”

Palfreeman said she really appreciates her piano accompanist Mary Lou Lybarger, as well as Judy Petersen’s assistance with orchestra. She said the custodial staff was instrumental in making her transition smooth.

“They were awesome,” she exclaimed. “They pulled everything out of the music room, so I could go through it in piles in the cafeteria.”

She lamented the bare walls in the music room, but otherwise Palfreeman said she’s pretty well organized and has computerized “everything.”

Free time for Palfreeman is rare, but she is devoted to volunteering at Discovery Fellowship Church in Fort Collins.

“Honestly, I didn’t know much about Wellington other than it was a town north of us,” Palfreeman said of her days as a PSD student. “But that first day I came by here, it felt good. This is the place I want to be.”

That’s just the kind of statement that’s music to local ears.