Quincy High School choir director Kylie Youngren said art is for everyone, and the benefits it provides last a lifetime.

“The arts are important because it’s what makes us human. It helps teach collaborative problem-solving that students can use in a variety of areas, in and outside the arts,” Youngren said. “And we hope that - we know that - the arts are lifelong. It’s something that kids can continue participating in into adulthood, into old age, throughout their entire lives.”

A community can tell when the arts aren’t what they should be.The QHS choir program was - well, not in the best of health when Youngren arrived, but it’s a robust program now. Typically it enrolls 50 to 60 students per year. She has directed the Quincy community choir, worked on QHS Drama Club productions and directed the choir in concerts and competition. 

Her students appreciate the work Youngren puts into her classes and the plays and concerts she helps direct. 

“(Youngren) is magic,” said Carter Yeates, one of her choir students and a drama club participant. “She pretty much doubled my vocal range in about four days.”