Title Page & Abstract
An Interview with Roger Amm
Part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Sports Stories - IHSA Oral History project
SIH-A-L-2017-074
Roger Amm, Ottawa Township High School's successful choral director, was interviewed on the date listed below as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Illinois High School Association Oral History project.
Date: Jul 29, 2017 Location: Ottawa, Illinois
Interview Format: Digital audio
Interviewer: Philip Pogue, ALPL volunteer
Interview being processed.
Transcription by: _________________________
Edited by: _______________________________
Total Pages: ______ Total Time: 1:14 / 1.23 hrs.
Accessioned into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Archives on September 13, 2017.
The interview is archived at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.
© 2017 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Abstract
Roger Amm, Sports Stories-IHSA, SIH-A-L-2017-074
Biographical Information Overview of Interview: Roger Amm was born in Pontiac, Illinois on October 8, 1957. Living on a farm, Roger started his education in a small country school (Owego) prior to graduating from Pontiac Township High School in 1975. While in high school, he participated in chorus, the men’s glee club, student government, musicals, and madrigals. Roger earned a BME (music education) from Illinois State University in 1980 and participated in several University vocal groups. Following graduation, Roger was hired at Wheaton North High School. In the fall of 1981 he joined the faculty of Ottawa Township High School and taught there for the next thirty-two years. (In 1990, Roger earned a Masters in Music from Northern Illinois University.) Roger was involved in many music organizations over the years, including being the IMEA (Illinois Music Educators Association) District 2 Choral Chair and IMEA District 2 Jazz Chair and IMEA All-State Choral Organizational Chair for two years. Roger was the Illinois Educator of the Year in 2013.
This interview covers the experiences of a successful high school choral director involved with 18 IHSA Music Sweepstakes first place awards. Roger discussed the yearly activities of the choral program, described the Music Sweepstakes and its solo/ensemble and organizational components, preparation for the contest and contest day judging. He also discussed a music director’s responsibilities when hosting an IHSA Music Contest, which includes hiring judges, facility preparation, developing student performance schedules, renting pianos, budgeting, providing food service, and keeping track of scores. Amm talked about the importance of developing a strong feeder program, especially in a school like Ottawa Township where students come from ten different schools. Roger reminisced about the IMEA Fall All State Festival and his final retirement concert.
Subject Headings/Key Words: Illinois High School Association Music Sweepstake; Ottawa Township High School; solo, ensemble and the organizational component of IHSA Music Sweepstake; hosting a music sweepstake competition; IHSA Music Advisory Committee; Illinois Music Educators Association;
Note to the Reader: Readers of the oral history memoir should bear in mind that this is a transcript of the spoken word, and that the interviewer, interviewee and editor sought to preserve the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein. We leave these for the reader to judge.
COPYRIGHT
The following material can be used for educational and other non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. “Fair use” criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. These materials are not to be deposited in other repositories, nor used for resale or commercial purposes without the authorization from the Audio-Visual Curator at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. 6th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. Telephone (217) 785-7955