Students Surprise Beloved Teacher with Flash Mob-Style Song

Ellen Bosch has overseen many a song and dance number during her years at Salem High School, although the one that is likely the most memorable for her just happens to be the only one she didn't have a hand in planning Thursday.

In the middle of Salem High School's annual holiday concert, over 100 past and present students interrupted the show in order to surprise Bosch, the school's chorus instructor, with a flash mob rendition of "You Raise Me Up."

The performance brought down the house in honor of Bosch, who will retire at the end of this year, as tears poured down most of the faces on the auditorium stage.

"I don't know how they kept it a secret," said Bosch, who has been at Salem High School since the 1999-2000 school year. "My god, what a tribute."

The first video above features the flash mob, which started as a solo before turning into a couple of duets and continuing to grow and grow as ensemble after ensemble of students came from offstage and from the back of the auditorium until a massive throng of tear-filled alumni showered Bosch in vocal harmonies.

The second video features some of the students paying tribute to Bosch with stories and heartfelt on-stage thanks. Bosch also is featured in the second video.

The tribute was the brainchild of Hudson Wells, a graduate of the Class of 2008 and a chorus department aide this year. Wells said Bosch is "so much more than a teacher" and "impacted many in a powerful way," which is why there was no question in his mind that something had to be done to show Bosch how much he and other alumni appreciated her.

Wells teamed up with classmate Cassie Scofield — the owner of The Barking Bean Cafe in Salem — and Julia Kiley — now a music teacher in Nashua — to contact alumni from around the country and arrange rehearsals. The former students had been practicing since mid October at Scofield's business and in the SHS band room, all the while letting as few people know about it as possible in order to guarantee that Bosch was truly surprised Thursday.

"Mrs. Bosch has been a teacher, mentor, mother, and friend to so many," said Wells, explaining why he felt a large-scale tribute was needed. "She has gone out of her way to give guidance and counsel whenever and wherever it is needed. Her life is dedicated to seeing students mature into adults with vision for their lives. Many have entered that chorus room with no clue about their future and left feeling confident about who they are and their future.

"I know my high school experience would not be the same. Bosch was the teacher who launched me into the leadership academy at the high school. Since then I have moved on to traveling the word, speaking and (hopefully) inspiring people to see who they are. I would not be who I am without Mrs. Bosch as a guide."