The challenges and joys of presenting high school and middle school musicals are myriad--and, due to the many variables involved, often unlike those of choral concerts, band concerts, or just about anything else that one may encounter as a teacher. With so many moving parts, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if one is new to the game. In…

After spending nearly a decade performing in musical theater, David Ladd found the role of a lifetime teaching choir and chairing the music department at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. And there's no doubt his enthusiasm and life experience have made a dramatic impact on the school's program, which received Grammy National Signature…