Mr. Lister's Opus

Last night was Norm Lister's final concert after 25 years over Pine View High School's choir program.  The concert was held at the O. C. Tanner Theater near Zion's National Park.  Seeing him up there leading the choir for the last time was a truly heart wrenching experience.

I first met Mr. Lister when I was in 7th grade and was in a community play with him (Heaven Never Closes).  Little did I know at that time what an amazing man he was and what he would come to mean to me and my family in the years to come. Many people have had one teacher that made an especially large impact on them during their high school years.  Mr. Lister was that teacher, both for me and for many of my siblings (as well as hundreds of others). 

Although I appreciated him at the time, the years I spent under his direction have come to mean more and more to me as time goes on.  He truly loves music and he has sacrificed so much to share that love with his students and (as he said last night), "to show them that there is something beyond the physical activities of high school, there is something that can reach you on a spiritual and mental as well as physical level."  The time and effort he put into helping his students was far beyond the typical choir teacher.  Being a High School teacher is without a doubt one of the hardest jobs around.  But because it is such an impressionable time of life - it is also one of the most important jobs as well.  Students at that age are often very difficult to work with, but he always gave everything he possibly could. And his constant striving for excellence rubbed off on his students and undoubtedly changed each of their lives for the better.

He has been a huge part of my family's life as he has taught and directed me and all seven of my younger siblings. He even took precious time out of his hectic Christmas schedule to help out family prepare music for Dad's funeral. We will all be forever grateful to him and the many lessons he has taught us not only through music, but through his unwavering example.

At the end of the concert, all those in the audience who have worked with him before, came up and sang his arrangement of Over the Sea to Sky.  It was a beautiful and fitting end to the final concert of his career.

Many people donated generously to get him a surprise final gift.  To his complete shock and amazement, he was presented with the tickets to fulfill a dream of his.....he and his wife will be going on an Alaskan Cruise!  Everything from the flights, the balcony cabin, and even spending money for the trip has been covered!  He is so deserving of a fabulous vacation - being a school teacher does not allow for many frills in life.  It was wonderful to see how touched he was by the outpouring of love and appreciation.  What an amazing man and what a blessing he has been to this school and community.  We love you Mr. Lister!