ASHLAND, Maine — There are many words used to describe retired Ashland educator and musician Larry Hall. Passionate, dedicated, funny, generous and talented are just a few. Father, son, husband, friend and mentor are a few others.
In early July, SAD 32 officially dedicated and named their school auditorium the ‘Larry Hall Performing Arts Center’ in honor of Hall. He is well known within the community and around The County as one of the most dedicated and passionate teachers the school has ever been fortunate enough to employ. In fact, Hall’s passion for music education has influenced generations of students and impacted their lives in many ways reaching far beyond music.
Former SAD 1 Superintendant Gehrig Johnson called Hall “an outstanding citizen and a personal treasure to Aroostook County.”
Hall was born and spent his earliest years in New Sweden with his parents and brothers. He credits the New Sweden Town Band with instilling his interest and love of music.
“Every Thursday night the New Sweden Town Band played. While the other kids ran around, I sat and listened to the band” Hall fondly reflected.
Hall’s mother, recognizing his interest in music, purchased a trumpet and with no available lessons in the area, Hall began teaching himself to play. By the first grade Hall had taught himself how to play “My Country Tis of Thee” by ear.
When he was 8 years old, his family moved to Houlton which Hall says was a “significant move” in his musical destiny as the school system had a strong music program. It’s also where he met “Mr. Joe Robinson” who began giving Hall formal trumpet lessons. Hall describes Mr. Robinson as the “best music teacher of my life” and said moving to Houlton and meeting Robinson “was a game changer” for him.
Hall continued on in the Houlton schools participating in the school and All-State bands in high school. After graduating Hall attended college, but dropped out after one year recognizing his parents could not afford sending more than one child. He then found a job at a grocery store which by his words he “hated.”
Around the same time, his mentor Mr. Robinson contacted him and told him of an available job in Ashland as a music teacher. Though only 19 years old at the time and without a college degree, Hall applied for and was offered the position. He refused, explaining he himself did not think he was qualified for the job. He continued on with his grocery job.
A month later he was again offered the position in Ashland and accepted. Hall taught at the school and “loved every minute of it” citing “the kids loved to sing and 80-90 kids at any given time were participating.”
Hall’s tenure at the school was interrupted when he was drafted during the Vietnam War at the age of 28. He was fortunate to become an Army musician and sang in the chorus, allowing him to “sing all over the world.”
After the war, Hall returned to Ashland and with the GI Bill finished his degree in music education. During this time he also married his sweetheart Anne, who also was hired by the Ashland school to teach fifth grade. The couple raised two sons, Joel who is the current Ashland District School principal and Toby who is employed as a state park superintendent.
Both sons share their father’s love of music and are talented musicians in their own right.
Hall reflected with a laugh that he had no intention of staying in Ashland. He had dreams of “moving on to a bigger school with a bigger music program,” but something kept him tied to the community.
“There were three reasons I stayed” said Hall. “One was the kids. They loved to sing and I figured they would also love a band and figured I would start one. Second, I got married and third, I fell in love with the outdoors.”
There was no turning back for Hall or the Ashland music program. Hall is credited with encouraging and instilling the love of music in to hundreds of students over the years, something for which he is humbly proud. His motto has always been “a person didn’t have to be Mozart to participate; you just had to love music and show up.”
Across the board, his students all say Mr. Hall was encouraging and enthusiastic.
Hall’s love of music reaches far beyond the school system and teaching. It encompasses all he does and is a part of his everyday life. In 1965 he created the Just Folk Singers. The group has accrued a fan base which continues to this day. The ensemble reunites once a year for a concert and the venue is always packed with fans.
Hall along with several other area musicians also founded the very popular Aroostook River Voices community singing group in 2010. The chorus now boasts 100 members making it one of the largest singing groups in the state.
Hall is enthusiastic when discussing music and feels proud to have been an influence on children and adults alike when it comes to participating in music. Hall believes “music is for everyone. You should just be able to enjoy music no matter your skill or talent”.
Hall is passionate about music education in general and encourages fellow educators to “get the kids to perform. Open a door to the rest of their lives.”
Hall retired from his teaching position in 1995 but has kept a foot in “the business” working full- and more recently part-time at a Presque Isle music store. He has also volunteered in the community as organizer/leader of the Aroostook River Voices group and the Just Folk Singers ensemble.
The July 5 presentation was an emotional and proud moment for Hall and his family along with community.
Hall says he wants everyone to know “I am just a normal human being. I was in the right place, at the right time with the right people.” He credits the support of the school board, colleagues, students, parents and the people of the Ashland community for making his success with the music program possible.
“Without them, none of this would have happened,” he said.
