Live on Good Morning America, Pentatonix members surprised their former choir director ahead of her retirement in May
ARLINGTON, Texas — It took a visit from Good Morning America and two members of the GRAMMY-winning acapella group Pentatonix for longtime Martin High School Choir Director Kay Owens to realize her impact on generations of students.
After 41 years as a choral instructor, with 26 of those years in Arlington, Owens will retire from teaching in May. Good Morning America and Owens’ former students, Pentatonix founders Scott Hoying and Kirstin Maldonado, flew in Friday to celebrate Owens and her impact on students.
“She deserved something epic,” said Hoying. “She is one of the reasons Pentatonix even exists, everyone who goes into her class leaves ten times more passionate about music.”
Owens was “totally surprised” by the celebration presented live on Good Morning America Friday, which included a VIP pass for a future Pentatonix concert and a trip to the Galapagos Islands.
“I’m just so proud, they become my kids when they’re here and then I follow them after they leave and I’m so proud of the things they’re doing in their life,” Owens said. “I never dreamed that they would come back and surprise me like this.”
Most of the time, Owens said she felt like she was simply leading rehearsal, but occasionally took time to pause and give her students “life lessons.” If a student arrived late or had a disagreement with a peer, she always made time to talk it out, always ending with the phrase “O.K. sermon is over.”
She hopes the wisdom she imparts prepares her students for the real world, Owens said.
“She taught us so much confidence-wise, the work ethic that we had to have,” Maldonado said. “Choir was always a safe place for us to grow and and become who we are today so it’s just awesome to celebrate her.”
After the epic send-off, Owens said she is excited to visit the Galapagos Islands and is sure that Martin High School’s award-winning choir program will continue to thrive under new leadership.