Our Team

Andrew Nemeth, Director of Choirs

BM in Music Education, Butler University

MM in Music Education, Boston University

anemeth@phm.k12.in.us

Andrew Nemeth is a conductor, music educator, and lifelong believer in the power of people singing together. As Director of Choirs and Fine Arts Academy Leader at Penn High School, he has the privilege of making music with students every day while helping shape a broader community of artists, musicians, performers, and creators.

But choir is about much more than learning notes and rhythms. It is about learning to listen to the music, to one another, and to yourself. It is about taking risks, finding your voice, discovering something beautiful, and realizing that what we create together can be greater than anything we could create alone.

Mr. Nemeth believes the best music doesn’t simply sound impressive, it makes people feel something. His goal is to create ensembles that are ambitious, curious, welcoming, and unafraid to explore music from many different places and traditions. Whether you are an experienced singer or discovering choral music for the first time, there is a place for you here.

Allison Secaur, Associate Director

asecaur@phm.k12.in.us

This is Allison Secaur's 19th year in the PHM School Corporation where she has been both a director and an accompanist for the choirs at Penn High School and Schmucker Middle School. Mrs. Secaur has also played for 12 Penn musicals and many contest solos and ensembles. Her experiences outside of PHM include giving piano lessons, playing for weddings/funerals, serving at church, playing for community musicals, studying piano at Ball State University with Dr. Robert Palmer, touring the Pacific Northwest and touring the Midwest as a member of the Ball State Chamber Choir under Dr. Douglas Amman, touring in China as accompanist for the Saint Mary’s Women’s Choir under Dr. Nancy Menk, accompanying the LaPorte High School Choirs, directing the Mississinewa High School/R.J. Baskett Middle School Choirs, acting as Middle School Coordinator for Circle the State with Song festivals at Goshen College for 7 years, and playing the piano at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Dr. Nancy Menk. Allison Secaur is originally from Indianapolis, and is a graduate of Ball State University (1996). She is married to her husband of 22 years, Kenny, and cherishes every moment they share together.  Mrs. Secaur directs Bel Canto, Bella Voce, and Cantabile Voices.

Ethan Schopp, Assistant Director

eschopp@phm.k12.in.us

Ethan Schopp has been involved in music for most of his life. From singing in elementary school programs to Illinois All State Honors Vocal Jazz to the Butler University Chamber Singers, he has sung in a wide variety of genres, styles, and settings. He was first interested in teaching in middle school, but it was in his senior year of high school that his choir teacher gave him a song to teach and direct for the final concert of the year, mentoring him along the way as he began to explore the world of choral music teaching. From that day on, he was hooked on teaching music. Ethan took that passion for music and teaching to Butler University in Indianapolis where he graduated with honors in May of 2023. His years at Butler and the many field experiences it provided molded him into a teacher who thinks critically about his pedagogy and how he is impacting his students. Ethan strives to be a teacher who takes a student-centered approach that cares for and values each individual student, sequences lessons and rehearsals in a developmentally appropriate way, and prioritizes learning that is fun, relevant, and socially and emotionally engaging. Ethan knows the power of communication and genuine relationships; he is looking forward to joining a team of incredible teachers and students.

Originally from Minier, IL - a town of just around 1,000 people - Ethan is looking forward to engaging with a larger student body and a large arts community. Musically, he is a tenor singer and also a percussionist; he loves listening to almost any genre under the sun. In his free time, Ethan enjoys climbing, hiking, biking, video games, and spending time with his friends and family, including his older brother, Collin, a reporter for an Illinois NPR affiliate station.