Dear Editor,
I didn’t learn all the lessons my mom tried to teach me growing up but there was one that she always insisted on that I have never forgotten: Write a thank you! (Thanks Ma!)
For those of you that don’t know me or know of me, I am the Director of Choirs and Choral Activities (Choir Director) at Rochelle Township High School and this marks the end of my 16th year. Several times throughout the years it occurred to me to do this, in particular, this year, but schedules, concerts, big kids, little kids, festivals, trips, summers and life always seemed to steal me away just long enough for me to put it in the back of my mind and forget about it.
This past January, Midnight Voices was honored to be chosen to be a featured performer in New Orleans at the annual International Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference where we sang for the biggest Jazz artists and educators from around the world. Literally, the composer or arranger for every song we sang was sitting right there in the audience.  We even had Grammy winner Kim Nazarian of the New York Voices join us on stage for a song (The composer of the song was also there and decided to join us on piano). Of course we would not have been able to go if it weren’t for the support of you!
Among those that made it possible, I must point out a few:

The RTHS Board of Education and Administration has continued to show their understanding that music and the arts are just as important in the lives of our students as any other subject by their continued encouragement and financial support.
The Rochelle Rotary Club has been supporting our program well before I became a part of it or even knew what a Rotary was.
The Rochelle Chamber Of Commerce has become a valued partner in many of the activities that we do including helping with the creation and continued organization of our annual Vertical Voices Vocal Jazz Festival at Rochelle. 
The RTHS Music Boosters have been one of our biggest supporters in everything that we do from the simplest of things to the most complex and costly. 
The City of Rochelle continues to find new ways for our students and our program to be showcased and to shine through their emerging talents. 
Maplehurst Farms couldn’t be a bigger part of Rochelle and their support of the music program and to the greater Rochelle area has been invaluable and very apparent to me ever since my first year here when I met Leonard. Roger and Carol Hayenga not only have seen their children go through the music program but we can still see their support shine through their involvement and participation in so many things we do.
Along with these, I must mention the alumni of both Midnight Voices and After Hours; the parents, families and friends of the students; all of the teachers and staff at RTHS; all of our regular concertgoers; all of our wonderful maintenance, custodial, and grounds crew; and all of our die-hard fans and each and every first time listener!
So from the smallest little kid that attended one of our concerts and clapped those little hands for us to the most generous donor who’s financial contributions have been limitless, I simply say to you all…Thank You!

Cory Jones