You can bet your bottom dollar that the sun will come out this May when Theatre Centre Wellington presents the family musical, Annie.
Featuring a cast of over 30 Centre Wellington District High School (CWDHS) performers supported by a live pit band, this production includes choreography, student-designed sets and a stage crew of volunteers.
The CWDHS musical production comes under the guidance of faculty members Jenny Ritter, director, Bill Zinck musical direction and Kelly Janzen, producer.
Annie will run from May 2 to 5, in the school auditorium, with evening performances beginning at 7 pm.
But the production also has a sentimental spirit, with the announcement that Zinck, the music behind many of CWDHS events, is retiring at the end of term.
Zinck spent his entire teaching career in the music department of CWDHS. As he likes to joke, “he never left high school.”
Zinck has been a part of many events at the school including several musicals in the recent years such as Music Man, A Christmas Carol and Zombie Prom. He has inspired young musicians from to perform abroad in regions such as Scotland, England, Sweden, Belgium and France.
For the last 22 years, Zinck has had the opportunity to work his wife, Kelly Janzen, CWDHS’s choir and vocal teacher.
“She had choir, I was band. When things are clearly defined it works great,” he said, smiling.
Zinck is looking forward to retirement, because it means devoting more time to pursuing other musical interests, such a playing with the Guelph Concert Band. He also looks forward to time at the family cottage and the list of woodworking projects he can now focus on.
“It’s time for me to start that next part,” Zinck said. “At this stage of the game there is a lot of younger people who deserve a shot at teaching.”
In Zinck’s career, he has seen many changes in education, and admits that he has serious concerns for the future of his profession.
“We need a revolution in education,” Zinck said. “We need to make all subjects equal so that all kids are equal.”
While the arts programs continue to be in jeopardy in school funding, Zinck points out that his own school offers three out of the four arts disciplines, but notes that students are only required to take one art course for their high school credit.
“I’ve done a fair amount of outreach [in primary schools] and what I see is that if art doesn’t appear to become a priority, it won’t flourish,” he said, noting primary schools are restricted by budgets and faculty.
“I think art is what makes us human. It’s been around as long as we have,” he said, adding as education becomes political art programs decline, and “subjects that are compulsory, as in important,” take priority. Zinck chose to take an active role representing his colleagues with the Ontario Secondary School Federation, where he participated on the District Provincial Council for four years and the as branch president for CWDHS.
For new teachers trying to navigate the education system, Zinck offers this advice: “Life is about relationships. Teaching is about relationships. It’s not formulaic,” he explains. “In the arts, we get the opportunity not to be so rigid, to get to know the kids better, and help them to get to know themselves better.”
That means ensuring his students share a mutual respect, being punctual and giving their best effort.
“I really enjoy the challenge, like when a kid wants to play guitar but can’t read the music,” Zinck said. “They discover it – that it’s a language – it’s logical and they are meant to get it.”
Zinck likes the way music brings students together too. “We have to think together and breathe together,” he said. “It’s very much a team effort.”
Admitting that he will “miss the kids the most,” Zinck looks back on his career with fondness.
“What we do matters…we help kids unlock themselves. We inspire them. But when they finally “get it,” we’ve done our jobs as teachers,” Zinck said.
Zinck will make his final CWDHS musical direction performance in Annie from May 2 to 5, in the school’s auditorium. The show begins at 7 pm.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors. For more information call 519-843-2500.
