Bryar Greene is a senior at Parkersburg South High School and is involved in a number of music programs, in both band and choir, at school. He is interested in becoming a music teacher. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Music has helped Bryar Greene grow and develop and he wants to provide that experience for others as he is looking to become a music teacher.

The 18-year-old Parkersburg South High School senior is a member of the Parkersburg South Marching Band, Concert Band, Madrigals Ensemble, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Mixed A Capella Group, Smoot Boys Ensemble and the Smoot Fifth Street Boys Chorus. He carries a 4.25 GPA and is also on PSHS student council and involved with Key Club.

“I am around music every day,” Greene said. “It is something that I enjoy doing.”

He plays trumpet in the different bands and also plays piano in other performances. He has been involved in band since fifth grade and been involved in choir for a number of years. He tried out and got into South’s Madrigals Ensemble as a freshman.

“I just threw myself into it,” he said of music. “I enjoyed it and I have stuck with it.”

Bryar Greene, fourth from left, was part of a group of student singers from Parkersburg South High School who performed recently at the Southern division competition in Louisville. (Photo Provided)

He actually had to give up Jazz Band this year, because he had so much else going on.

The arts impact everything students are involved in.

“There is a lot of work that goes into it,” Greene said. “Many people don’t think about it.

“The highest GPAs in the school come from the band and choir programs at school.”

To be able to play an instrument or do anything musically takes a certain dedication, commitment and drive to do it, he said. Greene estimates he is at school around 15 hours a week practicing music which he compares to having a part-time job. He is also taking voice and piano lessons.

Parkersburg South High School senior Bryar Greene plays the piano at a past holiday lighting ceremony at Parkersburg South High School. Music is an important part of Greene’s life as he wants to become a music teacher. (Photo Provided)

Unlike other subjects, music teachers usually will have students over the course of a number of years as opposed to one year per grade with a set amount of time together.

“The students will have the music teacher for four years (or so),” Greene said. “They become a major influence.”

One of the teachers who inspired Greene and helped inspire him to become a music teacher was Cathy Mace, who was a long term sub when Greene was at Edison Middle School.

“She really made choir feel like a home, and she is the reason that I fell in love with music,” Greene said.

He has also been inspired by Pam McClain whom he takes voice and piano lessons from..

Parkersburg South High School senior Bryar Greene, second row first from left, was part of a group of student singers from Parkersburg South High School who performed recently at the Southern division competition in Louisville. (Photo Provided)

Being involved with the different groups at the Smoot Theatre, all of the directors there are retired music teachers and he gets to see how different music teachers approach teaching music.

“It makes it fun for us,” Greene said.

He wants to give back something that he feels he has received from his own teachers.

Greene has already done work with the Children’s Ensemble at the Smoot in helping them with learn their parts.

In going out into the community to perform, Greene said that is when he sees people reacting and appreciating the talent on display and the work they put into these shows.

Bryar Greene was able to combine two of his favorite types of music performance when he sang “Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is” by Chicago as part of a Parkersburg South Marching Band show. (Photo Provided)

“They see the end product and realize it takes a lot of work to get there,” he said. “People are just amazed.

“It is a lot of fun getting out and seeing the people out in the community. It is nice to see they enjoy the arts, especially during Christmas time. Everyone loves to have us come sing for Christmas time.”

This past year, he got to sing “Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is” by Chicago as part of a marching band show.

Greene enjoys a variety of music and as time allows he likes to listen to some older music like Aretha Franklin and Frank Sinatra, but said he always enjoys listening to Christmas music during the holiday season.

In addition to music, he is involved in student council and government. He has helped organize events at school and is planning to go to a Student Government Day at the West Virginia Legislature during the next legislative session. In Key Club, he is involved in a number of activities including helping with Field Day at Lubeck Elementary, projects for foster families and other community service projects with the Kiwanis and others. They have also helped out with the annual Honey Festival and the Harvest Moon Festival. He has worked at Grand Central Mall during the Christmas and Easter seasons doing photos of kids with Santa and the Easter Bunny.

Bryar Greene, a senior at Parkersburg South, has done work during the holiday season taking pictures of kids with Santa at the mall. (Photo Provided)

This year is also the 50th anniversary of the Madrigals Ensemble at South in which Greene is helping to organize a reunion of past members. The group is known for its Renaissance attire and Renaissance-themed musical numbers which are sung in Latin or Italian.

“That is the one I like to go out into the community and perform with, because everyone knows about the Madrigal group,” Greene said.

As he gains new experiences, music remains a part of everything he does and wants to be able to pass that along.

“I find it really enjoyable,” Greene said. “It really has become a part of me.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com

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Parkersburg South High School senior Bryar Greene with two of his music teachers that really inspired him, Pam McClain and Cathy Mace. Greene wants to become a music teacher. (Photo Provided)

Bryar Greene, a senior at Parkersburg South, top row third from right, is part of Parkersburg South High School’s Madrigals Ensemble which does regular performances around the community. (Photo Provided)