inspiring growth, confidence, and joy through music
YCKC Rhapsody South
YCKC Rhapsody South
Grades 3-5, Auditioned
Singers in Rhapsody are welcomed into a fun and fast-paced learning environment with a focus on excellence! Rhapsody singers meet new friends who love singing, all while learning musical skills such as advanced singing in parts, solfege, and music reading.
Rhapsody meets from 5:00-6:00 pm on Sunday evenings at YCKC’s South Location (St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Raymore, MO) beginning in September.
Stephen Rew, Director
Stephen Rew holds his Bachelors and Masters of Music Education from the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. In his time as an educator he has received his district’s Teacher of the Year Award two times (Drexel, 2005 and Ray-Pec, 2013). He recently served as President for the Missouri Choral Directors Association. After teaching at Ray-Pec Middle School for 3 years, Rew spent 8 years at Eagle Glen Intermediate and is in his 8th year as the Vocal Music Teacher at his alma mater, Raymore-Peculiar. Stephen is also entering his 24th year as a professional church musician as the music director at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Under his direction, the RPHS Chamber Singers performed at the 2022 Missouri Music Educators Conference, the first in their school’s history. Stephen is also a motivational speaker, published composer and lyricist. Stephen and his wife, Cindy and their children Mason (age 18) and Chloe (age 15) live in their dream home in Raymore.
Beth Files, Director
Beth Files retired as a music educator after 32 years in the Raymore-Peculiar, Blue Valley, Harrisonville, and Lee’s Summit school districts. She was named the 2014 Teacher of the Year in Lee’s Summit and received the Outstanding Educator Award in 1997 in Harrisonville.
Choirs under the direction of Beth Files have won numerous awards, including several years of Outstanding Choir from Music in the Parks, and were selected to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Conference in 2009. Her choirs have traveled to competitions in Florida, Missouri, Kansas, and Hawaii, where they received top honors.
In addition to her teaching career, Beth has operated a private voice studio for over 40 years, where she enjoys helping students discover their vocal abilities. She has served as a choir director for both Methodist and Disciples of Christ churches, currently holding the position of adult choir director and Traditional Music coordinator at Woods Chapel Church in Lee’s Summit, MO.
Beth earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and her Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. She also completed a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Central Missouri in 2000.
Beth resides in Lake Winnebago with her husband, Mark, and their two dogs, Lulu and Roxy. She loves spending time with her children, Alexandria (married to Sean) and Taylor (married to Amanda), and her two grandchildren, Caroline and Addison.