From 2006-2013, I had the honor and privilege of conducting the Voorhees Choir on the Douglass campus of Rutgers University. For 7 years, on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, I would leave Ridge High School as Retz and arrive at Voorhees Chapel as Professor Retzko! Colleague and treasured friend, Dr, Pat Gardner, asked if I would come onboard and help re-establish the RU women's choir. I was hesitant at first as SSA(A) repertoire was not my strong suite and I was even more nervous about teaching college! Little did I realize that college was pretty similar to high school without giving detention!

I loved my time at Rutgers. I had a hugely supportive administrative team and a seemingly open-ended budget where I was able to hire first rate musicians to complement anything I desired. Once I proved myself a bit, I developed a reputation which encouraged retention in the group. As I was not on campus full-time, I was limited in my ability to recruit for the group and unlike a 4-year high school, my singers were not always able to place the ensemble rehearsals on their schedule from semester to semester.

Eventually, there was a negotiation. You could remain in the group if you committed to the Tuesday rehearsal from 7-9:30p. The Thursday 5:35 – 6:55p rehearsal became negotiable. It worked for us.

Douglass College is rife with traditions in which the Voorhees Choir was an integral part. The Douglass Society Induction. Yule Log in December. Sacred Path in June. The Douglass Reunion. Each requiring school songs as additions to our concert repertoire. I really loved all those talented women!