By Joe Hadsall

jhadsall@joplinglobe.com

Matthew Holt started his career with the Webb City R-7 School District in 1977.

Holt served as the junior-high band director, director of two junior-high choirs, a fifth-grade beginning band director, assistant high-school band director, assistant high-school choir director, and sponsor of the high-school flag team — all within his first three years.

“School was pretty busy back then,” Holt said.

Since those first days, Superintendent Ron Lankford said Holt has grown the high school’s choir into an outstanding program.

“Our choir program is a phenomenal success,” Lankford said. “He is a classic example of what happens when you have a quality person who gets kids to believe they can do what they want if they work for it.”

Holt, 53, has decided to retire at the end of this school year, ending a 30-year tenure with the Webb City district. He said that he made his decision because of family reasons and because “it is time.”

“There comes, in each person’s life, an inner feeling that it is time,” Holt said. “It also coordinates well with my family.”

Holt graduated from Webb City in 1972 at the top of his class. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Missouri Southern State University.

Falling back on his musical abilities, he attended the University of North Texas, where he earned a master’s degree in choral music education.

Holt taught in the Jasper R-5 School District for a year before starting in Webb City. He has taught the high-school choir exclusively for the last 12 years.

David Carnine, a 2004 graduate of Webb City High School, had Holt as a teacher. Carnine said that Holt’s positive attitude made him popular with students.

“He was one of those teachers who everyone wishes they could have,” Carnine said. “He was always really positive. Just an overall great guy.”

Now a music performance major at MSSU, Carnine said Holt helped snap him out of a shell of shyness.

“He knew how to train students to sing better,” Carnine said. “He was a big encouragement to everyone around him.”

Scott Boudreaux, president of the choir’s booster club, also said that Holt was an outstanding teacher.

“(Holt) has taught my son to have the level of confidence where he can try the unthinkable,” Boudreaux said. “He was very giving of his time, practicing with students night and day.”

Boudreaux said Holt’s extra work helped his son Justin earn a 1-rating at this year’s district competition — an improvement over his rating last year.

“His choirs, since 1977, have consistently received 1-ratings at state,” Boudreaux said. “He took 35 kids to state this year, and not one came back without a 1- or 2-rating.”

Holt’s accomplishments include:

n Leading the concert choir to receive 1-ratings at state 20 times since ’82.

n Helping 55 students get placed on the All-State Choir since ’83.

n Helping six students get placements to the Missouri Fine Arts Academy at Missouri State University since ’96.

n Helping seven students get placed on the Missouri All-State Show Choir since ’03.

n Leading the Webb City Show Choir to 25 first-place awards at competitions in Branson, Carthage, Harrisonville (Mo.), Nevada and Pleasant Hill sine ’92.

Holt also kept his choirs busy performing in the community. Lankford said Holt rarely turned down a performance.

“I think we had an obligation to give back to the community,” Holt said. “The gift of music they have received needs to be shared.”

Boudreaux said Holt’s shoes will be tough to fill.

“I’ve never been around a guy so talented,” Boudreaux said. “Yet, he has the gift of wanting to make others better, and wants no credit for it. He’s a giving person all the way around.”





What’s next?

Now that he is retiring, he plans to watch his daughters perform. They both landed summer singing gigs in Branson.

In addition to getting more time for long-distance bicycling and looking at antique cars, Holt said he will take a part-time teaching position at MSSU.