LAPEL — Lapel High School Show Choir will conduct its usual final concert of the year at 7 p.m. Saturday in the school auditorium.
It will be an unusual show, though, in one big way; it will be the last one worked on by longtime choreographer Ron Morgan, who has helped local students for decades.
Morgan, who worked on the concert along with fellow longtime choreographer Damon Brown, died May 3.
“The students at Lapel were blessed to have worked with him for the past 30 years,” show choir director Jeannine Terhune said.
Morgan, who was 65, was a true professional who had performed on Broadway and worked hard to teach and encourage young performers, Terhune said.
When he came into a room he had a big smile and he was prepared, she said.
He was both a perfectionist and very humble at the same time.
When he left at the end of a session, the last thing he would tell students is “you kids are better than you think you are,” Terhune said.
Terhune said she met Morgan in the 1990s when he was working with the show choir at Pendleton Heights High School. He worked at several schools at the same time, but in recent years had pared back to just two: Lapel and Cathedral High School.
He was involved with music at Pendleton First United Methodist Church, she said, worked in theater in Indianapolis — including at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre — and owned a dance studio.
“Our hearts are broken upon the passing of Ron Morgan, a longtime member of the Beef & Boards Family, this morning,” Beef & Boards posted on Instagram shortly after his death. “Ron made his Beef & Boards stage debut in ‘La Cage aux Folles’ in 1989 and began choreographing productions here two years later. He has choreographed with us ever since, for more than 100 productions.
“Our love goes out to Lamonte, Ron’s family, friends, students and collaborators as we remember this incredible talent, gentle heart and friend.”
A couple of Lapel Show Choir students shared their thoughts with The Times-Post via text.
“He was just an all around great guy,” sophomore Bennett Contos said. “It was impossible to have a bad time when he would sit in the choir room and smile with us. He really made me confident as a dancer and I’ve improved a lot because of him.”
Izzy Connelly, a freshman, said “I have only been in the show choir for a semester, so I was behind everyone else. Ron always made sure that I got everything if I didn’t he would explain it to me after class. He made sure to check in on me and it meant a lot. He was such a kind-hearted person and is going to be very missed.”
While Morgan will be remembered during Saturday’s show, the evening also will be a celebration of a successful year and a time to recognize others “who have done so much to make this remarkable year possible,” Terhune said.
The show will include pop music from current favorites from Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake as well as music from the movie hit “Barbie” and the Broadway musicals “A Chorus Line” and “Godspell.”
“It will be a night celebrating the joy of music and dance,” Terhune said.
Special guests for the evening will be the Lapel Middle School Show Choir (directed by Jill Guinn) and former show choir member Cameron Mason Buening.
After the concert, the audience is invited to the Lapel Commons for refreshments.
Show choir sponsors will be admitted free of charge.
Suggested donations for others are $5 for adults and $3 for students.
