Aberdeen students go bananas
for choir director ‘Mr. Kyle’
STORY By Rick Anderson
PHOTOS BY RICK MOYER
Kyle Sholinder conducted one of his first Aberdeen High School choir concerts wearing
a banana costume — the payoff for a successful effort to increase choir members.
Now in his third year as an Aberdeen School District music teacher and choir director, Sholinder will be donning more conventional apparel when he directs the AHS chamber choir during a performance at the Washington Music Educators Association state conference Feb. 13 at the Yakima Convention Center.
The 28-year-old Sholinder (who prefers that name to his birth surname, Guggisberg. His students usually refer to him as “Mr. Kyle.”) is proud of the choir’s selection to perform seven songs at the conference. But he is even happier that choral participation at the high school has approximately quadrupled during his tenure.
Although Aberdeen High boasts a strong music tradition and its choirs earned several state and regional accolades under the leadership of the late Pat Wilhelms, who retired in 2012, choral participation had dwindled drastically in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
While more than 60 students had enrolled in Miller Junior High classes, the high school program numbered only 25 when Sholinder was hired in 2023.
The Port Angeles native’s strategy for increasing that total was to have existing choir members recruit their friends. Three years later, enrollment in high school choir numbers close to 100 and, as Sholinder proudly notes, the retention rate is about 95 percent.
According to a student in his first class, Sholinder’s upbeat personality and passion for music made recruiting a relatively easy sell.
“He brought so much energy and he cared a lot about making the program better,” said Sam Dorsch, who now attends Western Washington University. “He’s a fun teacher and I think a lot of kids noticed that and wanted to be part of it.”
“I believe Kyle has made a significant impact because he has a student-centered approach to teaching,” Aberdeen High Principal Aaron Roiko added. “Kyle works hard on recruiting students and accepting anyone who is willing to participate. Our students relate to him because they see his authentic approach and love for music.”
“I like to think I make choir an enjoyable and safe place for the students,” Sholinder modestly observes.
The now-legendary banana costume episode stemmed from his initial recruiting pitch.
Sholinder had promised a year-end party if class sizes reached a certain level. Then he decided to up the ante.
“I told the kids that if you get an additional 25 kids at the high school and 10 more at the middle school, you not only get the choir party but you get to choose what I wear for the final concert of the year,” he remembered. “They chose a banana costume.”
Sholinder’s passion for music originally manifested itself in band at Port Angeles High School, where he played saxophone and later percussion instruments. During his senior year, however, he took an elective course in choir and became hooked. He went on to sing tenor for the Western Washington University concert choir.
He currently directs three choral groups at Aberdeen High School. The mixed choir, open to anyone, numbers between 60 and 70 students. The chamber choir, selected through auditions, is composed exclusively of sopranos and altos. Auditions are also required for the jazz-oriented Goldenaires, perhaps the high school’s highest-profile group, which has a maximum capacity of 18 students.
Sholinder also teaches two choir classes at Miller Junior High and serves as the high school’s boys tennis coach.
While Sholinder sets the parameters of his classes and selects the basic repertoire for the music selections, he gives his students considerable voice — both figuratively and literally — in other aspects of the program. Student responsibilities include organizing fundraising activities and retreats, publishing a monthly newsletter, designing choir T-shirts and making some final performance choices.
He also attempts to relate to his students’ taste in music by mixing numbers by such contemporary artists as Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter into the repertoire of jazz and pop standards.
“Motivating students, to my mind, has a lot to do with constantly listening to and responding to their needs,” Sholinder said.
“He’s able to relate to us,” said Gabby Abruscato, an AHS junior who is a member of the Goldenaires and chamber choir. “He uses a lot of metaphors that make a lot of sense — real-world-type stuff. It’s a very positive experience.”
“You can tell he’s really excited about us and he’s excited about the music we’re singing,” Abruscato said.
Sholinder said one of the favorite parts of his classes comes when students ask what’s next.
What’s next for the AHS choirs is a busy winter calendar.
Joint high school and junior high concerts are scheduled Dec. 9 and March 17, with a music boosters’ fundraiser and auction planned Jan. 24. There’s also the popular caroling-for-hire Christmas tradition Dec. 1-23.
For a $15 charge, Harborites can hire the Goldenaires to stop at the door of their residence for a few minutes to sing some holiday selections. Longer appearances for groups ($100 for a half-hour and $150 for an hour-long performance) can also be arranged.
The appearance at the WMEA conference in Yakima will clearly be a highlight of the school year for many choir members. But while honored by and appreciative of the opportunity, Sholinder still regards performances as “a blip” on his program’s overall radar screen.
“The best part of choir,” he insists, “is to sing with your friends."
PHOTOS BY RICK MOYER
Kyle Sholinder conducted one of his first Aberdeen High School choir concerts wearing
a banana costume — the payoff for a successful effort to increase choir members.
Now in his third year as an Aberdeen School District music teacher and choir director, Sholinder will be donning more conventional apparel when he directs the AHS chamber choir during a performance at the Washington Music Educators Association state conference Feb. 13 at the Yakima Convention Center.
The 28-year-old Sholinder (who prefers that name to his birth surname, Guggisberg. His students usually refer to him as “Mr. Kyle.”) is proud of the choir’s selection to perform seven songs at the conference. But he is even happier that choral participation at the high school has approximately quadrupled during his tenure.
Although Aberdeen High boasts a strong music tradition and its choirs earned several state and regional accolades under the leadership of the late Pat Wilhelms, who retired in 2012, choral participation had dwindled drastically in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
While more than 60 students had enrolled in Miller Junior High classes, the high school program numbered only 25 when Sholinder was hired in 2023.
The Port Angeles native’s strategy for increasing that total was to have existing choir members recruit their friends. Three years later, enrollment in high school choir numbers close to 100 and, as Sholinder proudly notes, the retention rate is about 95 percent.
According to a student in his first class, Sholinder’s upbeat personality and passion for music made recruiting a relatively easy sell.
“He brought so much energy and he cared a lot about making the program better,” said Sam Dorsch, who now attends Western Washington University. “He’s a fun teacher and I think a lot of kids noticed that and wanted to be part of it.”
“I believe Kyle has made a significant impact because he has a student-centered approach to teaching,” Aberdeen High Principal Aaron Roiko added. “Kyle works hard on recruiting students and accepting anyone who is willing to participate. Our students relate to him because they see his authentic approach and love for music.”
“I like to think I make choir an enjoyable and safe place for the students,” Sholinder modestly observes.
The now-legendary banana costume episode stemmed from his initial recruiting pitch.
Sholinder had promised a year-end party if class sizes reached a certain level. Then he decided to up the ante.
“I told the kids that if you get an additional 25 kids at the high school and 10 more at the middle school, you not only get the choir party but you get to choose what I wear for the final concert of the year,” he remembered. “They chose a banana costume.”
Sholinder’s passion for music originally manifested itself in band at Port Angeles High School, where he played saxophone and later percussion instruments. During his senior year, however, he took an elective course in choir and became hooked. He went on to sing tenor for the Western Washington University concert choir.
He currently directs three choral groups at Aberdeen High School. The mixed choir, open to anyone, numbers between 60 and 70 students. The chamber choir, selected through auditions, is composed exclusively of sopranos and altos. Auditions are also required for the jazz-oriented Goldenaires, perhaps the high school’s highest-profile group, which has a maximum capacity of 18 students.
Sholinder also teaches two choir classes at Miller Junior High and serves as the high school’s boys tennis coach.
While Sholinder sets the parameters of his classes and selects the basic repertoire for the music selections, he gives his students considerable voice — both figuratively and literally — in other aspects of the program. Student responsibilities include organizing fundraising activities and retreats, publishing a monthly newsletter, designing choir T-shirts and making some final performance choices.
He also attempts to relate to his students’ taste in music by mixing numbers by such contemporary artists as Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter into the repertoire of jazz and pop standards.
“Motivating students, to my mind, has a lot to do with constantly listening to and responding to their needs,” Sholinder said.
“He’s able to relate to us,” said Gabby Abruscato, an AHS junior who is a member of the Goldenaires and chamber choir. “He uses a lot of metaphors that make a lot of sense — real-world-type stuff. It’s a very positive experience.”
“You can tell he’s really excited about us and he’s excited about the music we’re singing,” Abruscato said.
Sholinder said one of the favorite parts of his classes comes when students ask what’s next.
What’s next for the AHS choirs is a busy winter calendar.
Joint high school and junior high concerts are scheduled Dec. 9 and March 17, with a music boosters’ fundraiser and auction planned Jan. 24. There’s also the popular caroling-for-hire Christmas tradition Dec. 1-23.
For a $15 charge, Harborites can hire the Goldenaires to stop at the door of their residence for a few minutes to sing some holiday selections. Longer appearances for groups ($100 for a half-hour and $150 for an hour-long performance) can also be arranged.
The appearance at the WMEA conference in Yakima will clearly be a highlight of the school year for many choir members. But while honored by and appreciative of the opportunity, Sholinder still regards performances as “a blip” on his program’s overall radar screen.
“The best part of choir,” he insists, “is to sing with your friends."