Fifty years ago, Nanci Kahle Bailey pioneered the Orchestra program at Pioneer Central School. On May 18, Mrs. Bailey returned to witness how far it has come.
ABOVE: Nanci Bailey (third from left) is congratulated by Pioneer Music Department teachers John Reagan, Bridgette Brooks, Onna Hacker, Kim Higgins, David Chatterton, and Jared Burch.
"It is so great to see so many smiling faces, on stage and in the pit," Mrs. Bailey said, while holding the plaque for her induction into Pioneer's Performing Arts Wall of Fame. "All these young people. What a dream come true!"
Fittingly, Mrs. Bailey's enshrinement came during Pioneer's annual String Fling, a grades 5-12 concert featuring all of Pioneer's string ensembles.
After founding the Orchestra program, Mrs. Bailey spent the next 40 years growing and nurturing it. She retired in 2013.
Mrs. Bailey is still active in multiple performing groups and continues to mentor younger players.
"Nanci is the reason I'm here," said Bridgette Brooks, a former student of Mrs. Bailey's and current string teacher at Pioneer Middle School. "She influenced me becoming a teacher. Due to her efforts, this program is continuing to thrive.
"Not only is she an amazing teacher, cellist and pianist, she also was an extra mother figure to us orchestra students," Mrs. Brooks added.
Mrs. Bailey is the 19th member of the Wall of Fame, joining such luminaries as Al Bigelow, Larry Simonetti, and the Free Design. She is the first inductee since 2019.
(Watch the String Fling concert)