Students Wish Dr. Levi Farewell

After nearly 16 years of teaching in the Southern York County School District, students are wishing high school orchestra conductor Zachary Levi farewell. 

Levi will move on to the next chapter of his life at Susquehanna College as an assistant professor of the orchestra.

Levi sees leaving Susquehannock as emotionally stirring. 

“It is really bittersweet, and I don’t know that I ever would have left this program unless it was for some opportunity like this,” Levi said.

Part of Levi’s farewell includes having different qualified candidates come into the school and teach the orchestra class for a day. 

This helps to gauge how the candidate and students mesh together as well as gain insight on their knowledge of music to determine the most qualified person as Levi’s replacement. 

Levi expresses his gratitude for his students who have made his career so memorable.

”My favorite times in my life seem to always happen when I’m on the podium with [my students], and a lot of times, tough days turn out not to be so bad as soon as third period comes around,” Levi said.

Wishing Levi farewell will be hard on all of his students, but they are grateful for the opportunities he has provided. 

Freshman Ella Schlegel’s first year in the high school orchestra could not have been better spent with Levi leading the way.

“Dr. Levi helped me be a better player,” Schlegel said. “He taught me good life lessons and helped me find great friends in the class.”

Levi´s new title as assistant professor of the orchestra has three tiers, being orchestra director, cello teacher and, finally, music education teacher

He will finish out this school year with Susquehannock and transition to Susquehanna at the beginning of the next school year. 

Levi has been working towards this dream for years, and his students could not be more proud of him for finally achieving it. 

Another student impacted by Levi’s career at SHS is senior Darrius Singh.

“Dr. Levi has been an amazing teacher and friend for the past few years,” Singh said. “He’s given so many of us a passion for music, and I am so thankful for that. I wish him luck in his future endeavors.”

Students in the orchestra are sad to see him go but wish him luck on this next chapter of his life. 

Levi expresses the importance of finding the right career path and hopes he inspires his students to follow their passions.

“I think it’s really important for people to really find something that they can do that they really enjoy and that really speaks to them,” Levi said.