On May 19, 2025, the extraordinary Mr. Rolland Mays was celebrated in a heartfelt retirement concert after 54 dedicated years of service to MV. This then sparked the question: what was next for the MV orchestra?
In steps Mrs. Alyson Morris, former music director for Rome, who has an incredibly dedicated music-centered soul, and her passion for music shows through her uplifting personality.
“This is definitely the year for the ‘try anything’ approach. This is a new situation for me, and it’s a new experience for students,” explained Mrs. Morris. “I’d love for us to explore new music, study the classics, and pursue as many performance opportunities as possible. I want music to be more relevant to our students’ lives than ever. Realistically, we can’t do literally everything, but if everyone keeps an open mind, the possibilities are endless.”
Change might seem quite scary for most, and Mrs. Morris knows this and plans to adapt, while simultaneously implementing her own changes with the students. So, don’t think of her as a replacement, but think of it as a new chapter for our MV orchestra.
“Big shoes to fill, indeed!” Mrs. Morris described, “Mr. Mays is a pillar of the community as a whole, and he’s made an impact on thousands of students during his career. That’s pretty daunting. I never wanted to think of it as ‘replacing’ Mr. Mays, though, because he is irreplaceable,” Morris added. “ My goal is to carry the legacy of the MVTHS Orchestra program into the future.”
The music program has many changes beyond just Mr. Mays’ retirement, however. Many classes in G-Wing are being divided differently, as Mrs. Morris has an array of different music-focused skills, such as guitar.
“There are so many music opportunities available in G Wing now. I’m leading four sections of guitar, so that has allowed Mr. Mateyka time for beginning band and some piano classes. Besides her regular piano and choral classes, Mrs. Holden has an extra section of beginning choir and a music recording and production class. As for the orchestra as a whole, Mr. Mays left me a talented bunch of students. The freshmen, too, have really impressed me. They’re pretty ambitious, so I’m looking forward to challenging them and finding out just how much we can accomplish.”
Mrs. Morris has nothing but compliments and praise for her students. She explains that, though there is a lot of work involved, she goes home happy and satisfied with her students’ hard work, and always looks forward to the next morning.
“I LOVE it here at MVTHS! It’s a lot of work, but I’ve loved every minute of it. I go home happy (and tired) every night, but I always look forward to coming back the next morning.” Mrs. Morris said.
On a more personal note, many events sparked that interest and zeal in Mrs. Morris to pursue a music career, as well as spreading her love of music to schools and influencing the lives of the student body to also pursue music.
“I’m a proud former member of the MV music department, so it has always held a special place in my heart. Really, though, it was about the opportunity to work closely with Mr. Mateyka and Mrs. Holden.” Morris added, “I have a tremendous respect for them as educators, and their philosophies on music education align with mine. Working alongside them can only help me become a better educator,” Mrs. Morris stated
Aside from her love of music, Mrs. Morris also engages in small activities outside of school. That is, when she actually has the opportunity to take a step back from music, which she explained is currently the base of her focus.
“Right now, music is occupying ALL my time! I do enjoy knitting, genealogy, reading, researching better ways to care for my cacti, and shopping for stationery. “ Mrs. Morris stated.
Mrs. Morris is also an MV kid through and through. She explains that one of her band directors, Mr. Brian Childers, was an inspiration, leading to her taking music as a career. She holds appreciation for all of the teachers that got her here, but also her most important teachers, her parents.
“I had some outstanding teachers over the years. My piano teacher from childhood, Nancy Wagner, knew how to push me to achieve. My high school band director, Mr. Childers, made me see just how much fun teaching could be. His sense of humor and rapport with his students made me want to become a teacher. One of my directors at Murray State University, Mr. Fannin, made me realize that I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” Recalled Mrs. Morris, “Last, but certainly not least, my parents helped to make this dream become a reality.”
“For any student who might be considering a career in music, my advice would be to immerse yourself in the industry and meet as many people as possible. Talk to teachers who inspire you- even if they aren’t music teachers. And learn to play the piano. Piano is crucial, no matter where you choose to go in music,” Mrs. Morris stated.
Mrs. Morris’s advice is deeply rooted in life experience. It is clear that music has been such a central part of her life for decades, and her words are not just based on theory. These experiences shaped her career and her opportunities she works to improve for her students.
“I began playing with an orchestra when I was in college, and it became a passion. One of my absolute favorite events was playing in the pit orchestra for the fall musical every year. Years after college, I played in a community orchestra under the direction of Larry Phifer. Several musical members of the community also played in this group, including Mr. Mays and Kathy Calvert, our accompanist. My child would attend the concerts, and that’s what sparked her interest to learn the violin.”
“That’s what ultimately inspired me to initiate string programs at my school. I felt that every student should be given the opportunity to pursue membership in an orchestra. What better way than to bring it to more public schools?” Mrs. Morris added.
No matter your opinions on the changes going on in our very own G-wing, it is clear that Mrs. Alyson Morris is not just investing her time into creating a safe space for music but also creating a new and diverse space for both teachers and students alike to share their love and passion for music.
