Macomb, IL – The Singing Seniors program at Spoon River College was founded 25 years ago and has been directed by the same person through all those years. But that person is now retiring after many decades in music education. Ruth Parks was 19 when she began her career as a teacher in Michigan during the late 1930s. She eventually moved to western Illinois and spent what she thought were the final 24 years of her teaching career as choral director at Macomb High School. But shortly after leaving the high school, Spoon River College came calling about a music class it wanted to begin for seniors. Parks decided to give it a try for one semester, and before she knew it, the program began to take off. Now, at the age of 87, she's finally prepared to retire - again. You can listen to News Director Rich Egger's feature about Ruth Parks and The Singing Seniors by clicking on the audio button above.
Grand Finale for Director of Singing Seniors
