Kathy Mattea works with students

Kathy Mattea sat in the Sisters High School choir room, cradling her black Taylor guitar. The renowned country and folk music performer was recalling her own high school days.

“I remember walking into my choir class and thinking, ‘My gosh! I’m in school and I get to sing.’”

Few students get to sing the way Sisters students do, with award-winning music programs, the Americana Project — and visits from Starry Nights Concert Series alumni such as Kathy Mattea and guitarist Bill Cooley.

Mattea, her husband, songwriter Jon Vezner and Cooley were in Sisters schools all day Thursday, April 6, working with classes and individual students and imparting decades of career experience to fledgling musicians.

Mattea had wrapped up a tour in Eugene earlier in the week and contacted Starry Nights co-chair Jeri Fouts to see if they might visit the schools. Fouts, recognizing the offer as an indication of the musicians’ sense of connection with Sisters after their 2004 performance, made the arrangements with the schools.

The musicians worked with music students from the Americana Project to jazz classes to choir classes in both middle and high schools, then spent the afternoon conducting “masters classes” with out-standing individual students.

Cooley told The Nugget that he was amazed at the level of proficiency of the jazz players — and at their passion for the music.

Mattea’s effusive personality and evident interest in sharing with the students made the connection with the choir singers easy. She could relate to their efforts, having been a choir performer in school — an experience that shaped her future.

Mattea said she had to work hard on her voice.

“I didn’t start as one of those child singers with a great voice,” she said.

She recorded herself and worked relentlessly on her weaknesses “until the choir director picked me to sing a solo in the choir. And then my life really changed.”

She said she “found a home in music” and pursued it as a career. Yet the learning wasn’t over. She recounted another life-changing moment when a producer gave a 19-year-old aspiring singer some singular advice.

“He said to me... ‘Well, you have a beautiful instrument, you have a beautiful voice, but you’re not really singing,’” she recalled. “‘You’re just making beautiful noise. It’s pleasant to listen to, but it doesn’t make me feel anything.’”

That advice, instead of being crushing, encouraged Mattea to delve deeply into the meaning of the songs she sings, to impart story and emotion. She encouraged the young Sisters singers to do the same.

“What’s the message in the song that you’re trying to get across?” she said.

Mattea and Cooley performed several songs for the class and discussed technical aspects of her delivery, including phrasing.

The rapt audience clearly got the message.

Americana Project Director Brad Tisdel said the musicians enjoyed being in Sisters and he was impressed at their willingness to devote a full day of intensive work with the students — with no more compensation than the knowledge that their inspiration may have changed a life.