After more than two decades of inspiring generations of students in the musical arts at Skyline, longstanding Choir Director Nancy Ziebart has announced her retirement at the end of the 2023-24 school year, marking an end to an era here at Skyline.
She has been involved with Music at Skyline since its opening in 1997, when she scheduled Skyline’s first musical and became a full-time teacher at Skyline in the next year, where she has greatly expanded the musical offerings at Skyline.
She currently directs all the choir classes, that being Treble Choir, Concert Choral, and Vocal Jazz. She also teaches the semester-long electives of Piano, Movies and Music, has found and formally taught IB Music at Skyline, and commits to after school activities. This includes Chanson, directing the annual Skyline musical, and more, helping Skyline’s music community to be the best it can be, improving each student’s individual music experience.
Her retirement this summer will leave both Skyline and the Issaquah School District without its senior-most teacher, with many leaving behind emotional farewells.
“People…that have never been in choir are being super appreciative and they’re like “we hear that you’re retiring, we’re really sad.” Ziebart said.
Reflecting on her Skyline experience, Ziebart said about Skyline’s meaning to her, saying that “I’ve been in this [choir] room for so long and I’ve been at this school for so long; it’s been a home away from home for me and for my whole family; both of our sons went to Skyline, so I’ve not only been a teacher here.”
When inquired about her passion for music, Ziebart pointed to her childhood, retelling her early interest in her father’s performances.
“My dad was a musician; he was a trombonist and a teacher of band and choir.” Ziebart said “So, as I grew up, I’d really enjoyed going to his performances. He taught in high school, and I’d love going to his high school choir concerts. I would go early when he went to warn the students up…and I would sit in the front row and just watched him and just loved it.”
When reflecting on her Skyline experiences, Ziebart contemplated, remarking that her best highlights every year are the performances, most specifically the last.
“Over the years, a lot of times it is the last concert of the year because it’s when seniors are super exited to be doing their last concert and they’re ready to move on
but they’re also feeling sad about moving on so often it’s those last concerts of the year” Ziebart said.
After being asked what she would miss the most about Skyline, she responded directly, being that of the “creativity of the students and the performances and… [the] music” Ziebart said.
However, there are a few nuisances that she is keen to be rid of.
When asked what she was looking forward to most about her retirement, Ziebart said “Not sure yet, probability just the freedom to not have a lot of meetings and pressures at work.”
She will still be active in music however, hinting at possible plans to start piano lessons, and to direct a local choir, still letting her express her inclination and love of music.
When inquired on her final remarks, Ziebart, getting emotional, dwelled on the importance of the fine arts in each student’s Skyline journey.
“This part of the school where we have the music and the arts and the theatre, some people tap into what we do, and others never encounter this part of the school because everybody has their own likes and desires and talents.” Ziebart said. “But I know the people who do find this part of the school an important part of their Skyline experience really have it impact who they are, and it gives them a place to belong and that’s been my hope and the hope of my full department in all that we do here.”
