Liz Churchill: Be the Change

In fifth grade, Liz Churchill lifted a trumpet to her lips for the first time. Whether or not those initial brassy notes sounded sweet to anyone listening, they heralded a lifelong devotion to music that would shape Liz’s life. Today, as the music teacher at Sisson School in Mt. Shasta, CA, Liz plays bass, drums, guitar, and “at least ‘Hot Cross Buns’ on all the other instruments,” she says with a laugh. Her favorite instrument remains the trumpet – she even majored in trumpet at Humboldt State University – and she loves playing in symphonies, jazz quartets, brass quartets, and more. 

On any given day, Liz’s classroom resonates with the chirps of recorders, the chords of modern and historic American songs, and the tapping of feet practicing folk dances. “I want to expose kids to as much music as possible,” says Liz. “Sisson is an amazing school, and we’re creating a culture where everybody does music.” 

Eight years ago, after teaching at various schools in Oregon and Northern California, Liz began teaching at Sisson. Throughout her career, Liz has loved sharing her passion for music, but she pursues a deeper goal: helping kids find their passions. “If they really like music, of course, I love to encourage that,” says Liz. “But I also deejay for school dances, go watch kids play their sports, and just pay attention to what is important to the kids. I like to be involved in their lives, to pay it forward because there were a lot of people there for me.” Liz lists her uncle Jim as one of her supporters and musical inspirations. “I learned guitar by watching him,” says Liz. “He’s 94 now, and every year we do a family singalong at Christmas and he still plays the guitar!”

Liz’s desire to help kids discover their passions reveals that she values people. Although she loves music, Liz says her favorite part of playing the trumpet has always been “all the people I’ve met through it and all the fun experiences I’ve had while playing.” Jean Marie, Sisson’s choir accompanist, says she respects and admires Liz as “a very knowledgeable musician” who can “teach everything from basic theory to jazz scat singing.” But Jean also admires Liz’s enthusiasm and care for the students, consistently demonstrated from the start of the school day through after school band practice.  

Colleen Shelly, the head of Sisson’s Site Council and the mother of two of Liz’s former students, identifies Liz’s resurrection of the Sisson School Talent Show as “a small glimpse into Liz’s dedication to her students. She sees value in all the kids, so she gives them a night to share their varied talents.” Kale Riccomini, Sisson’s principal, says Liz “makes sure there is something for all students. Everybody gets to perform; everybody walks out of there a winner.”

Liz’s way of noticing and appreciating kids makes her a favorite with Sisson students. Colleen’s son, now in high school, fondly recalls spending lunches in Liz’s classroom, sometimes watching a movie and sometimes just hanging out, “If some started being wild, she would ask them to leave. Mostly everyone was calm because they wanted to be there.” Kids also love Liz’s interactive outings, like a seventh and eighth-grade field trip to see a local performance of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
In January 2019, Liz will take her honor choir students to the California Music Educators Association Junior High Honor Band and Select Choir performance, where they will compete against and sing with middle school students from across the North State.

In her non-musical free time, Liz loves to snowboard on Mt. Shasta, especially when her daughter, who now lives in Redding, can join her. Recently, Liz has also enjoyed taking to the trails around her home on her Onewheel, an electric skateboard with a single wheel. In addition to the exercise and time outdoors, Onewheeling attracts Liz because “it’s a culture within itself; people all around the world ride Onewheels.”

Thanks to Liz, Sisson School’s music program is also “a culture within itself,” a place where kids can learn about music, discover their passions, and practice caring for others — one note at a time. 

The mission of our be the change column is to feature community members from the north state who are actively making a difference in community life. If you would like to nominate someone who is making a difference, please write to pn@northstateparent.com.