Mary-Pat Gehret

And, entertaining the public is what Gehret's students have been doing all year.

Gehret's students have performed in a multitude of performances with a variety of venues and genres of music. Perhaps the most exciting event for the students this year was performing at the Y100 Wing Ding, a radio station-sponsored music festival. The Omega Singers, one of Palmetto's top choral groups, won the Y100 contest to back up rock-singer Meredith Brooks.

At the concert the students were able to see the famous stars Carlos Ponce and the members of the band 98 degrees.

Another major event this year was the school musical Me and My Gal. The musical took a combined effort from the drama, orchestra and choreography, as well as the chorus students and teachers.

"I really enjoy working with Mr. Longfield, Mr. Smith and the other teachers in my department," Gehret said. "They're just wonderful to work with. They're so talented."

Many hours were spent after school preparing for the show and the result was a great success.
"The kids are nice to work with," she said. "They have an inner drive that keeps them moving."

The holiday season also was a busy time of year for Gehret and her students. There was a combined performance between the fine arts department for the holiday show and the students also performed at the Biltmore, Sunset Place and the Rod and Reel Club.

At a Christmas caroling at Bayfront Park, Gehret used the event for a joint performance of the Omega Singers and her two guitar classes.

The hearing impaired students also collaborated with the chorus to perform the singing and sign language version of the song We Shall Overcome during black history month.

Gehret, a native of Memphis, always has had music in her life. Growing up attending the Catholic Church, Gehret was fascinated by the organist at an early age. Later, she sang in mass and by sixth grade was playing piano for the service. Early on, she was teaching the neighborhood kids to play piano for 25 cents a lesson.
After graduating high school, Gehret attended the University of Miami. She took her first job at Howard Drive Elementary School, before taking leave to have four children with her husband, also an educator. Gehret has gone on to teach at Sister of Epiphany, South Ridge and Miami Lakes. She has been at Palmetto Senior High for five years.