Denise Searfoss was the orchestra teacher at Abington Heights Middle School for nearly 40 years — and a beloved and revered teacher, at that.
Denise announced her retirement before the eighth-grade orchestra’s final concert of the school year, and one of her last concerts ever — but she had no clue what was in store.
Toward the end of the night, Denise was presented with cards, gifts, and a video tribute created by her students. But then a door swung open at the back of the auditorium.
Standing there was a man dressed in a tuxedo — one of Denise’s former students who now credits her for inspiring him to become a music teacher. Denise’s jaw dropped when she realized who he was.
He then escorted Denise up the aisle and toward the cafeteria, and asked the audience to follow.
A parent named Adriane described what followed in the Abington Journal. “What greeted us was a full orchestra of current high school and returning alumni musicians, all in formal attire, bows raised in unison,” she wrote. “The multi-generational ensemble had silently set up during the concert. Secret practices had been held all over the state and beyond. It was the first time they would all actually play together.”
In the clip below, watch Denise’s reaction as she discovers her students, past and present, performing a song in her honor.
Footage provided by WNEP Scranton
Source : https://www.littlethings.com/music-teacher-retires-perform/