5 EDUCATORS OF INTEREST
Best of Education 78
The
CHORAL
Director
BY WILLI MILLER
PHOTO BY ED DRONDOSKI
Watching Gary Miller enjoying an early morning
breakfast with his family at Kountry Kitchen in
Vero Beach, you might look at his suspenders and
blue jeans and automatically peg him for a local farmer,
and you’d be close to correct.
Miller is a true old-time Floridian who loves to hunt and
fish and has his roots in the down-to-earth, country style
of living his parents embraced. He admits to looking forward
to the day when he finally has his 10-acre plot west
of town ready for a herd of cows and some farming, but
for now, Miller, director of choral activities at Indian River
Charter High School in Vero Beach, tends to his students in
the school’s choral program.
The music and drama programs are in the curriculum of
the Schumann School for the Visual and Performing Arts at
IRCHS. Students in the program study the arts in tandem
with the academic program taught throughout the school.
This year at IRCHS, Miller has 64 students under his
baton, some in the show choir, where the music ranges
from the swing of the ‘40s to the top 40 of today, with others
in the concert choir, with the focus on classical music.
Miller was born in Melbourne and is a graduate of
Melbourne High School. He earned his music education
degree at Appalachian State University in the Blue Ridge
Mountains of North Carolina, a school that prides itself on
being aclo se-knit community.
After college, Miller returned to his home state as music
and youth director at a local Baptist church but soon recognized
his true calling, educating young people. In 1986, he
accepted a teaching position at Vero Beach High School. Six
years later, when a slot opened up at the new Indian River
Charter High School, Miller jumped at the opportunity.
A born teacher, he says he isn’t much of a singer and
laughs when he describes himself as “one of those ‘if you
can’t do, you teach’ people.” In addition to choral music,
he teaches music theory and is a student council sponsor.
The well-liked choral director brings the same caring
he experienced at Appalachian State to his position at
IRCHS but believes it has to be a two-way street. “When
kids choose a charter school, they know they have to perform,”
he said. “We have an unwritten contract here:
Your job is to learn, our job is to teach. We know the kids
are getting the best teachers we can find and they’re giving
us their best efforts.”
His approach is appreciated by the young people
Miller shepherds. “My students affectionately call me
The Troll. They have little signs all over: Troll Cave and
Beware of Troll. They know I want them to do well, that
I’m going to demand they give me their best effort every
day and if they don’t, I’m going to call them on it. But at
the same time they know I’m going to help them overcome
today and be ready for tomorrow. I just want them
to be happy.”