she would end up finishing her career in Northville, a community she feels so blessed to have been a part of. Pryce loved the town so much, she and her husband, Wayne, moved to town and have lived in Northville for 32 years. Both of their children – Kati and Steve – grew up in the community and graduated from Northville High. During the last four decades, Pryce has been a fixture in the NHS auditorium, having overseen some 36 musicals, her students wowing crowds with their polish, skills and passion. That’s because the students buy in to her program and give their all. Take it from Beth Richert, who has worked with Pryce as both a student and a colleague. Richert, a 1997 NHS grad, sang choir as a student and then a little more than a decade later came back to her alma
mater to teach. She, along with Mark Krempski, currently help Pryce run the choir program. Richert described Pryce as a driving force in her taking up the teaching profession. “She mentored me to pursue my goal to become a music teacher,” said Richert. “When I got hired in 2009 to come back and work with my mentor it was a momentous occasion for me.” Richert is not alone. Many of Pryce’s students have gone on to have careers either teaching music or in the music industry in some capacity. Richert said the reason is pretty simple – Pryce just connects with students and is able to transfer her passion for music. “She cares more deeply about high school students than anyone I’ve ever met. And they feel it. She inspires them,” Richert said.
AN INSPIRATION One of those students is NHS senior Winter Graham, who is actually a second generation Mary Kay Pryce student. “She was my dad’s elementary teacher,” Graham said. Graham knows firsthand how Pryce brings the most out of students. Mary Kay Pryce at Northville High in 1989. Graham didn’t even take up choir until her community events. sophomore year, but due to “She understands her kids Pryce’s encouragement, she so much more than other got more and more involved, teachers. She has a high level of and today is a member of the compassion and is able to relate Girls’ Ensemble, Chorale, to her students. She makes and TrebleMakers, a select everyone feel special,” Graham ensemble that performs at said. school concerts, pep assemblies, Parents have also taken music festivals and at notice of the influence Pryce has had on their children. “I know that my two sons loved every minute they were able to spend with her,” said Northville resident Julie Mantey. “She was able to connect in such a special way with all of the choir students while at the same time developing them and giving them such an appreciation for music. She has been a real gift to the Northville community.” Mantey, her sons, and many other NHS choir alumni are looking forward to attending a special concert planned for June 9 at Northville High that will honor Pryce. Richert, who is helping plan the retirement party/concert (dubbed the MKP Mic Drop), says it is going to be a special night, and will bring Pryce’s career full circle. “Lots of people are coming
Mary Kay Pryce leads one of her choir classes in song.
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