Each year the NPC High Country Barbershop Chorus recognizes a person that has contributed significantly to Harmony in the White Mountains.  This year’s recipient meets the criteria, for not only her musical contributions, but for a long and outstanding career in music.

Our 2008 winner was born in Pima Arizona, and completed school in the Pima school system.  She was recognized as her graduating Senior class Valedictorian.

 Following high school she attended Eastern Arizona College, where she first played the organ in that schools annual Messiah concert.  She then attended BYU, where she majored in Home Economics, with a minor in Music. 

She has been married for 42 years, and resides with her husband “LaRue” in Show Low.  They have seven children and seventeen grand-children, and by year end, that will be twenty grand-children.

She has been the piano accompanist for the White Mountain Chorale for the last 20 years, and has played the organ for that group for it’s annual Messiah concert each year during that time period.

She was the music teacher for the Show Low mid school for 16 years, and has been the music teacher for the K through 3 school for the past three years.  It is reported that she is like a “Rock Star” to the children she teaches, and is recognized wherever she goes, as such, by the kids.

She was the accompanist to Pinocchio on today’s performance, and Sarita is one of her grand-children.