In the midst of a heavy storm, Melissa Jacot is the ray of sunlight peeking through the clouds. After her retirement as Summit’s choir teacher in 2022, the program faced a difficult transition, one her students would not have survived without all the lessons Jacot has taught them. She has touched the lives of countless students, and has created a legacy for Summit’s choir that will last for decades to come. Currently battling Parkinson’s, Jacot’s innate ability to find the good in every situation and person acts as her very own superpower. 

Her journey at Summit began in the fall of 2001. Arriving from High Desert Middle School, Summit’s inaugural year was chock-full of chaos, partly because the building was unfinished. Summit’s auditorium was still being built, as was much of D Hall, forcing band, choir, orchestra and theater to be held in random classrooms throughout the school. All instruments and materials had to be purchased brand new and the performing arts departments weren’t able to access the auditorium for concerts and rehearsals until November.

This instability also coincided with national disarray, following the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City, which occurred during what was only the second week of Summit’s opening school year.

“It was really a stressful year,” said Brian Seed, Summit’s current choir director. “I can remember seeing Melissa when we locked the doors to go to Christmas break. And we were both talking about how we were as tired as we [normally] would be in June at the end of the school year.” 

Seed is the current Summit Choir Director, and is a long-time friend of Jacot’s. The two first met as colleagues, as Seed was the band director and worked alongside Jacot for the first three years of the school’s opening.

Despite the challenges presented in Summit’s early years, under Jacot’s wing, the school had one of the strongest performing arts programs within the Bend La-Pine School District. She taught four different choirs: Skyliner Jazz, Chorale, Concert Choir and an all Women’s Choir. These groups were large and full of talented students to the point where, during musicals, the pit would be so full it barely fit all of the musicians within. At concerts and performances the choirs were so large all the audience could see was a sea of robes; which is a testament to how substantial Summit performing arts were at this time.

However, while beautiful performances and high-placing competitions were certainly due to Jacot’s teaching, her former students insist that the true reason for the choir’s success has to do with Jacot’s character.  

Callie Thomas, Class of 2025:

“Her kindness and compassion are truly unmatched. There was never a day when she didn’t walk in without a smile. She had this warm, welcoming energy about her that made everyone feel instantly at ease, like you really did belong in that room.”

Shea Miller, Class of 2024:

“[She is] a light in the darkness, which suddenly wasn’t so all-encompassing as we were surrounded by a community, beckoned by the light of Melissa Jacot.”

Sophia Monger, Class of 2024:

“Jacot is the epitome of sunshine. It’s rare to see her without a smile, and she is always looking at the better side of things. She knows that the world can be a difficult place, but it isn’t that bad if you can use humor and love.”

Audrey Howes, Class of 2025:

“There was never a moment where I felt unwelcome or unloved in her classroom. She inspires kindness in people and models it.”

Jacot’s classroom was a safe space for her students. And for many, her love for music, dedication to her students and hard work ethic was contagious.

In 2015, when Pacific Crest Middle School opened its doors, Jacot expanded her role by becoming choir director there while continuing her position at Summit. Many of her middle school students later followed her to the high school, drawn not just to choir, but to Jacot. 

Unfortunately, in 2020 Central Oregon Performing arts, as well as programs across the world suffered greatly, and Jacot was simultaneously hindered due to a cancer diagnosis.

“COVID kind of decimated everybody,” said Seed.

During this adjusting time period, Seed helped to substitute for Jacot for six weeks, whilst she had surgery, teaching Jacot’s two very large choirs over video calls, following Jacot’s wishes throughout the process. Miller explained that despite the unconventionality of this time, it was clear that Jacot was committed to her students’ education. 

“Concert choir at that time was already strange, imagine trying to get a group to sing in time and on pitch over WebEx. Not happening.” said Miller. “We had lots of foundational music theory assignments, sent in singing recordings, and self-guided projects involving music in our chosen capacity.”

Despite Jacot’s cancer, she never failed to show up for her students, and her dedication during COVID-19 is only one example out of countless instances of this.

Jacot returned to teaching following her surgery, but in the spring of 2021 she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a disease which began to greatly affect her daily life.

“She couldn’t play the piano with one of her hands, which was really hard to see because she loved playing. She started conducting with only one arm, and you could see that she was in pain,” explained Monger.

However, instead of stepping away after her initial diagnosis, Jacot chose to stay with the choir for this extra year, to say goodbye, and to spend as long as she could doing what she loved: teaching, singing, and connecting with her students. Theater Director Lara Okamoto witnessed this decision first hand, as Jacot continued to help her plan their musical for the year.

“She didn’t want to just fade out. She stayed that extra year so that she could go out on her own terms” said Okamoto.

“That’s what musicians do,” said Seed. “It doesn’t matter how you feel or what’s going on with you. You push through because the show must go on.”

And Jacot did just that. She showed up for her students every day, with the same dedication and love as all her previous years being a music teacher. In the spring of 2022 Jacot officially announced her retirement, breaking the news to her students that she would not be returning in the fall.

“You could also see that she didn’t want to leave us either. When she left, it felt like there was something missing in the choir room. We kept singing, but the atmosphere was different with her gone,” said Monger. “To me, it felt like the room was a little less bright.”

In the years following Jacot’s retirement, the Summit choir program has been held together by one thing — Jacot’s legacy.

The sheer goodness that Jacot brought to all of her students’ lives, and the family that she created within the walls of her classroom, left such a strong imprint in her students, which gave them the strength to persevere in her absence. 

Without Jacot at the helm, the choir suffered. With multiple replacement directors stepping in, it seemed none were able to hold the position long-term. Whether due to scheduling issues or poor qualifications, this string of stand-in and substitute teachers was extremely subpar in comparison to Jacot.

“We refused to let the program fall apart,” said Thomas. “The choir council and upperclassmen created lesson plans, organized rehearsals, and we picked music together. We were determined to keep Jacot’s traditions alive. Without the foundation she built, I don’t know if Summit Choir would have survived.” 

Even though Jacot wasn’t physically present in class anymore, her students were perfect models of who she taught them to be: kind, hard-working, compassionate, inclusive and strong leaders.

Beginning the 2023 school year, the choir teaching position at Summit had been reduced to a part-time position, and not a single teacher had applied for it. The choirs entered the school year without a set teacher, until Seed stepped into the role three weeks into the school year. 

“Part of the reason why I decided to [teach Summit choir] was for her. She needed to know that her program was still going and she wanted to make sure that the kids were still enjoying singing,” said Seed.

Jacot had been thrilled to know that her longtime colleague and friend would be taking over for her. Entering the school year Seed was extremely understanding at what the program had been through, and his shared love for Jacot with the students helped them to adjust.

“I let them know from the beginning that I really cared about them, the choir, and their teacher,” said Seed.

Jacot’s former students are a reflection of her terrific teaching and ability to connect with others. The love that they share for her is simply unmatched. At the choir’s first concert in 2023 (their first full year without her) Seed asked Jacot to come in and surprise the students and warm up with them. 

“
It was emotional for them, it was emotional for her, but it was great emotion,” explained Seed. 

As Jacot embraced her students, what was abundantly clear was that she has never truly left them, and never will. Looking around the choir room, Jacot is not only present in the students, but the space is hers as well. Seed hasn’t changed her office, hasn’t taken out any of her books from the shelf, he hasn’t changed anything.

“She built her whole program from the ground up and she did it with a lot of love and passion which all of her students responded incredibly, positively to her influence,” said Okamoto. “Her effect on those students’ lives will always be lasting because of that.”

All of Jacot’s students are extremely grateful to have been taught by her.

Ava Swetland, Class of 2025:

“The Summit choir classroom was the first place I realized that I truly loved music. Jacot taught me all the ways that music allows you to connect with others, and the world around you. Throughout my life, I’ve learned that in my pursuit to learn more about the world around me, music offers an almost immediate gateway.”

Abby Laughlin, Class of 2024:

“Jacot is an incredibly strong woman. She is more than this disease has made her. She was more than just an educator, I can confidently say she has changed the lives of hundreds of students, myself included.”

Audrey Howes, Class of 2025:

“She really cared about us, which is so impactful from a teacher. Mrs. Jacot understood that students don’t just come and go. We were always welcome. She helped me believe in myself and see myself as a capable performer.”

Callie Thomas, Class of 2025:

“Her strength, resilience, and heart inspire me every single day. I will always be grateful for her and for the people, memories, and lessons she brought into my life. She changed me in ways I will carry forever.”

Today the most esteemed accolade a Summit choir student can receive is the Melissa Jacot Legacy Award. Criteria for which Jacot created herself.

Melissa Jacot Legacy Award Criteria (per Melissa Jacot)

• Choir music lover
• In choir for at least two years (preferably four)
• Team player/builder
• Student leader
• Compassion for others
• Looks for ways to include everyone

The very first recipient of this award was Monger, who Jacot hand picked and presented the award to at Monger’s senior concert.

“I couldn’t help but think about how grateful I was for all of the memories with her. She gave me the award and hugged me and told me how proud she was of me, which meant the world to me,” said Monger.

Jacot’s impact on not just her students, but the entire Summit choir program will never fade. The program continues to express their love and appreciation for her, showing up over the years to perform Christmas carols on her front lawn, extend concert invites and rehearse songs at her request.

Throughout her battle with cancer and Parkinson’s, Jacot has remained true to herself. Her joy, kindness, optimism and faith have been constant, even in times of darkness.

“I don’t know where she finds it. I mean, she is a woman of very deep faith. 
I know that. But to be in the ravages of this disease, there are two things about Melissa that I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” said Seed. “One is that she just radiates joy. 
It doesn’t matter what the situation is. It doesn’t matter how much she’s suffering. You see joy in her face. And number two is her ability to find the goodness in everyone. 
She looked for it and she found it.”

Jacot is a truly remarkable woman, who has touched the lives of her students, colleagues, friends and loved ones. Though she no longer stands at the head of the program, she remains, now and always, the heart of Summit choir.