Sound Strategies

Alumni Programming-Connecting Generations-RAMP

Amy Phillips

Ben and Nancy Rose graduated from Lima Senior High School in the late 1950s and have been steadfast supporters of the school and its students ever since. In 2017, they approached choir director Amy Phillips with the idea of underwriting a project that would bring Lima Senior alumni—now working in various areas of the music field—back to collaborate with current students. The spark for the idea came the previous year, when an alumnus wrote an arrangement of The Merriest for band, choir, and orchestra to perform together.

Since then, the concept has grown into a meaningful, multi-generational experience now known as RAMP: the Rose Alumni Music Program. RAMP has welcomed Dr. Joshua Boggs (Class of 2010), Trent and Kacie Sampson (Class of 2007), Steven Slusher (Class of 1996), CJ Brincefield (Class of 2012), LaJoyce Daniel-Cain (Class of 1974), and her brother Cullen Daniel III (Class of 1979). Former Lima Senior choir director Nancy Cook has also participated.

With only one exception, RAMP alumni have returned during Holiday in Harmony, a Lima Senior tradition since 1956. Their roles have varied—performing with students, appearing as soloists, conducting ensembles, or often a combination of these. Each guest spends several days working with students, sharing stories from their time in the program, offering guidance from their careers as educators and performers, and building genuine relationships with the next generation of Spartans.

The impact has been remarkable. Students are energized by the presence of alumni who once stood where they stand now, and the sense of connection across decades is palpable. The program also draws community members who remember the featured alum, transforming the concert into a warm, joyful reunion that bridges generations. Current students witness firsthand the lasting friendships and meaningful memories that can come from their own high school experiences.

RAMP benefits everyone involved—students, guest alumni, the director, the audience, and the community. “There are stressful moments and some logistical things to solve,” says current choir director Amy Phillips, “but in the end, it’s all worth it to see the response from everyone involved.”

Some directors may hesitate to attempt a similar program due to funding concerns. However, several RAMP participants have donated their stipends back to the program or noted that they would have gladly participated at no cost. The value of the experience, for many, is simply the chance to give back.

Programs like RAMP remind us that music education is not just about performance—it is about people, relationships, and legacy. When former students return to invest in the next generation, the result is a stronger community and a deeper understanding of the lasting impact of music in our lives. Whether large or small, alumni engagement initiatives can enrich your program in ways that resonate long after the final note.

Amy Phillips is a 1993 graduate of Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with a Choral Emphasis. She has taught at the middle and high school levels in both Arizona and Ohio. Mrs. Phillips has traveled all over the world with choirs performing in Arizona, Austria, California, Colorado, England, France, Germany, Hawaii, Italy, Ohio, Massachusetts, New York, Switzerland and Texas. She is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and is the President for Ohio Music Education Association District 3. She also serves on the Lima Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors. Mrs. Phillips has been teaching in Lima City Schools since 2016 and has been actively involved in the district since 2008.

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