Who We Are: Lori + Troy Raper
Photo courtesy of Lori + Troy Raper
Lori and Troy Raper are teachers at Palisade High School and experts at collaborating with their community. We took some time to learn more about the various ways they stay connected.
Spoke+Blossom: What are the activities you both do in the community?
Lori: We are both involved with Grand Valley Yoga Fest, whose proceeds go to suicide prevention and awareness in the valley. This is important to me because it brings together two of my passions. I have practiced and taught yoga for over 20 years. Suicide has affected me personally and I am passionate about finding ways to help those who are struggling. I am a ceramic artist with a studio in my home. I donate several pieces a year to causes that I am passionate about. I teach photography for Colorado Christian University’s online college, and love having students from around the world learn a skill that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Troy is the principal bass in the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra. He is one of the founding organizers of the Grand Valley Honor Orchestra. Troy was the production manager and one of the bass players for the Crested Butte Music Festival for 20 years. Troy also coaches the E-sports team at Palisade High School.
S+B: In what way is collaboration most applicable to you?
Troy: As an orchestra teacher, I work with fellow music staff, sectional coaches and college teachers to improve musical output — an example would be the department-wide musical performance of The Music Man. For this musical to come together it was necessary for the choir teacher, theater teacher, band director and orchestra teacher — as well as the shop teacher — to collaborate to produce a successful performance.
Lori: As an art teacher I am always collaborating on different levels. I encourage my students to work together on projects. I give feedback to each of them on their individual work. I also work with other teachers to help students be successful. I collaborate with members of the community to provide opportunities that my students would not normally get, like learning to raku fire with Terry Shepherd or participating in the Alturusa Art Fair or super rad art shows.
S+B: Lori, how is collaboration important in the art community, especially in the Grand Valley?
Lori: Art can be a very social endeavor and it is especially true in ceramics. Local artists gather to load and fire kilns and participate in workshops. My students paint Christmas windows. We participate in fundraisers and auctions to support important causes. For music they put on district music festivals, community theatre performances, honor groups and other performing groups. The arts are inherently collaborative endeavors.
S+B: Troy, how is collaboration important for a successful orchestra?
Troy: Collaboration in all music (except solo pieces) involves communicating in a variety of ways to reach a singular goal as an ensemble. Failure to collaborate would mean that there is no performance. You are collaborating by listening to the entire group in order to make adjustments to pitch, style and artistry.