“People halted everything in their lives just to express gratitude to Jim Stanley,” one student expressed. Another alum shared that choir class provided her with the fondest memories in high school, and they were not surprised by the overwhelming response to the invitation, as Stewart was adored by his former pupils.
“I marked it in my calendar and cleared my schedule, specifically to return to my small hometown and sing one last time with all the familiar faces from my youth,” Kühn stated in the caption of her viral TikTok video.
“Honoring Mr. Stanley, someone who played a significant role in shaping who I am, was an absolute honor,” Kühn further wrote on her Instagram.
Stanley revealed to ABC News that he was “moved to tears” upon seeing his students return to rehearsals. Now 52 years old, he reflected on his musical journey and credited his own choir director as his greatest musical mentor. Although he initially resisted joining the choir, after being selected for the All-State choir, Stanley’s passion for music education ignited, inspiring him to pursue a career as a music teacher.
“My choir teacher at the time saw potential in me,” Stanley recalled. “She encouraged me to continue, and that set me on the path to a lifelong love for choir.”
Additionally, Kühn shared a video of the final performance, garnering nearly 200,000 views. Interestingly, Kühn’s siblings also had Stanley as their music teacher. Her mother believes that he positively impacted troubled teenagers by introducing them to the gift of music.
Motivated by his dedication, the former students established the Etowah Scholarship Foundation to support music educators and honor Stanley’s legacy
