Our people: A place in the choir

If you spend some time with Tami Martin, she will tell you the time in her life when she developed an interest in being involved in choral music. The director of the Clovis High School choir as well as the Clovis Community Chorus spent time with The News as she was preparing for Tuesday night's Community Chorus concert.

Q: What is the story of you and Clovis?

A: In 2008 my husband was called to a local church here, Parkland Baptist Church, and that's how we came to town.

In 2008, I was contacted by Wayne Anderson, director of Music Education for Clovis Municipal Schools, and offered the choral position at Yucca Middle School.

I was born in Lovington.

Q: Tell us about your family.

A: My husband, Roy, and I have been married for 32 years. We have three children. My daughter, Lauren, is 23 and graduated with a vocal performance degree from Texas Tech. She recently got married.

I have twin boys, Joshua and Jacob, they are 20. Joshua is a pitcher for the Eastern New Mexico University baseball team working on his degree.

Jacob works locally with a water well company.

Q: So what is the story of you and music?

A: In elementary school in Lovington I had a music teacher, Linda McGinnis, who was very instrumental in keeping me in music. She recognized something in me. She was my first choir director.

By fifth grade I pretty much knew I wanted to be a choir director.

Then there was Bill Jones in Lovington. He was my secondary choir director. He had me involved in everything possible in my secondary music education.

I started my higher education at New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs. I was there just a year.

That's where I met Roy.

We married at the end of that year then headed off to Wayland Baptist University in Plainview.

Q: Where else has your career taken you?

A: I taught in the Lubbock area for 12 years. Then I moved to Clovis. I've been here since 2008.

Speaking of where my career has taken me, I want to mention that I am taking a number of our Community Choir members to London and Paris to perform with the Global Ambassador Choir under the direction of Jason Paulk of ENMU.

In 2019 we took a trip to Prague in the Czech Republic; Vienna and Salzburg, Austria.

Q: What is your favorite part about your career?

A: Seeing the kids when they know they had a fantastic performance. Seeing their faces light up.

Q: Tell us about your relationship with the Clovis Community Chorus.

A: So in 2018 Wayne Anderson, who is head of the chorus' board of directors, came to me and offered me the position as director.

Through some prayer, my husband and I thought this was something I was ready to do.

My favorite part is the rehearsal. It is so intense but there is laughter.

It is so fun to direct a group that loves to sing but also loves to laugh and have a great time together.

Q: Are you a big fan of a singer, group or such?

A: I like so many different things, it's hard for me to pinpoint.

Q: What is your favorite place to visit or vacation?

A: The mountains. Anywhere there's not a cell phone, that's big for me. And I love to fish, even if they're not biting. We do most of our camping in the mountains of New Mexico.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: I'm all about the Mexican food. I like some spice and I like my green chiles.

Q: Wayne Anderson is a man associated with choral music in Clovis. Tell us about him and the chorus.

A: He was previously the high school choir director here in Clovis. For years and years. To my understanding he was the director of the Community Chorus when it was affiliated with Clovis Community College.

Q: What may we expect at the upcoming Community Chorus concert?

A: Some traditional style choral pieces all the way through Christmas selections that will be recognized by many.

We will have a guest appearance from the Clovis High School Chamber Choir.

Some of those students are in the Community Chorus too.

Q: What time? What place? Other details?

A: The concert will be at First Methodist Church at 1501 N. Sycamore St., Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Admission is free.

Q: And there'll be snacks?

A: There will be a reception following the performance that we would love everyone to enjoy.