Staff Spotlight: Peter Barsch, BHS Choir Director
by Lauren Gould, Batavia High School senior/BPS101 Communications Dept. intern
Peter Barsch brought his passion for music and helping others to Batavia High School four years ago. You may have seen him standing on the stage at a choir concert, or maybe you have heard about some of the work he has done at Batavia High School. His impact on the choir program is huge. He not only teaches choir, but is involved with several other programs to improve the BHS program.
How long have you been involved with music?
Always. I can’t think of a time when it wasn’t a huge part of my life. As soon as I learned how to read, I started teaching myself piano out of my older brother’s lesson books. My family would sing quartets at church when I was a kid as well. I always did choir and band through school. I sang in rock bands, performed in school musicals, performed in community choirs, sang weddings and funerals—pretty much anything I could find! Once I went to college, I tried to just focus on my biology major (pre-med), but I couldn’t bring myself to stop thinking about music
Any goals for the choir program moving forward?
I feel like we are moving in a pretty good direction, but I would love to build more student-directed learning. I would also love to do more to get kids out of the Batavia bubble. We only tend to interact with other schools when we are competing with them, and I think that’s really limiting. I’d love to have non-competitive festivals with other schools in the area.
Can you tell me more about the choir/VTP program partnership
Batavia High School students can take “PE leadership” as a PE elective. They have PE with students in the VTP [Vocational Transition Program] every day. One day a week, they have “Communication Circles” where they practice talking about various topics. They have choir together two days per week in our “BFF choir.” We sing and dance together. There’s something magical about singing together; it’s very bonding. It’s a win-win for everyone, and most kids who do it end up saying that BFF choir (and PE leadership) is one of the most rewarding parts of high school.
Why should students join choir?
Tons of reasons. For one thing, students acquire an instant group of peers that they can carry with them throughout their entire high school career. In most other situations, students and teachers change out every year or semester. Even athletes have to deal with the fact that they are competing with their teammates, and their coaches will often change out as they get older. Also, while we do learn things in choir, if I’m doing it right, it doesn’t feel like a class. Ideally we can just geek out about music together and get better at making it. It’s very collaborative. Another nice thing about choir—as opposed to instrumental classes—is that kids can decide to join at any point. It’s way harder for a kid to suddenly decide to pick up the oboe or cello in high school.
What are you currently involved in right now with the Batavia High School choir?
This is my busiest time of year. In addition to getting all classes up and running, I am working on the musical “Chicago,“ doing a little off-season work with show choir, and trying to get the Chromatics up and running. Four members of the Chromatics graduated last year, so we need to replace them and get everyone caught up.
What do you do with music in your free time?
I love to sing with the professional chamber choir, Cor Cantiamo. I’ve had to take a couple years off, but I’m hoping I’ll be able to join the choir again soon. I’ve made two records with them and performed around the country. I still regularly play bass, guitar, or piano and sing at Community Christian Church in Naperville. The church does contemporary music really well. I love playing and singing there.
What are you most proud of outside of musical accomplishments and/or choir?
I’m proud of my family and my commitment to them. I’ve worked hard to be a good husband and a good dad, and that can be very difficult in my line of work. Several choir directors are single or choose not to have kids. In fact, a close mentor of mine told me not to have kids! Balancing work and home life can be tough, and I have to make sacrifices on both ends. It’s been a difficult balancing act and, while I’ve fallen down a couple times, I’m generally proud of how I’ve made it work.
How has BFF choir impacted you and what impact do you hope it has on the students involved in it?
It’s all about the relationships. This choir has formed friendships between people who otherwise would never have interacted. Each of the kids in that choir is valuable and important. Paige is important, Luke is important, Carolina is important, Maddie is important, Cody is important, and so on.
Was being a choir director something you always wanted to do?
No, I thought I wanted to be a doctor. Thank God I got over that! I always knew I loved music, but I didn’t realize how much I loved students. There are a lot of great musicians who are terrible teachers. I feel like any success I have had comes as much from my love of kids as from any musical skills. After 11 years at Oswego East, I became the BHS teacher. I had recently moved to Batavia and learned of the job opening. I thought it might be really cool to be my kids’ teacher, and it would make it far easier for me to be present as a dad if I wasn’t working 30 minutes away. I interviewed here, hit it off with the other teachers and administrators, and knew quickly that I needed to take this job.
We’re glad you took the job!
