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Ann Doyle, educator and founder/artistic director for 20 years of the Greensboro Youth Chorus, has had many memorable music experiences. But touring Europe with the GYC and singing at the D-Day Memorial at Normandy's Omaha Beach particularly stands out.

"Omaha Beach will forever be etched in my memory because something extraordinary happened there," Doyle said.

She arrived at Omaha Beach's American Cemetery Memorial on a gray, rainy day. In the rain, the chorus gathered to lay a wreath at the stone and granite memorial, which looked out on thousands of American graves.

As rain drizzled, the chorus sang the National Anthem, then a Swedish hymn about the resplendent earth, the springing up of earth's bounty and recreation.

"At that very moment, the sun popped through the arches of the memorial where we stood and glistened directly down on us," Doyle said.

"Everyone had chills," she said. "We knew we were standing on holy ground - a place made sacred by the sacrifices of 2,200 American troop casualties on D-Day during World War II."

Singing for the Southern Division Convention of the American Directors Association in 1998 was the musical highlight of her career, Doyle said. The group had given a stunning performance, and she said tears came when words could not.

"They knew they had individually and collectively given a stellar concert to their satisfaction before a critical audience of choral directors," Doyle said.

Under the leadership of Doyle, the GYC has provided thousands of musically talented students experiences they would not have had otherwise.

They have had the opportunity to participate in concert tours throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe, including the Central European Choral Festival in Germany and France, the Canterbury Choral Festival in England, and the International Choral Festival in Powell River, British Columbia.

Doyle is a North Carolinian by birth and a graduate of UNCG. She married Sam Doyle, who teaches advanced placement music theory at Weaver Academy, and is a private voice teacher and choirmaster at St. Francis Episcopal Church.

As a child, she grew up playing the piano and singing in the church choir.

"The one person that instilled in me the love of music and teaching was my high school band director, Ravon Smith," Doyle said. She was a brass player, principally trumpet and French horn, and Smith was a task master.

"He would not let his students get by with mediocrity," Doyle said. "Demanding much more, he challenged us beyond our imagination, and most of the time he got exactly what he wanted, which was extra hard work and beautiful artistry that he knew was in us all along."

In 1988, Doyle got the idea that the Greensboro community should have a professional children's choir, so she approached Barry Auman, executive director of the Music Center. She encouraged Auman to promote a professional children's choir.

That's how Doyle first became involved with the GYC, which began more than 20 years ago.

For the past 13 years, Cathy Connor has been involved with GYC in some capacity, the past nine as president or co-president of the GYC board.

"Cathy Connor is a very special woman with an amazing musically talented family," Doyle said. "Her older daughter, Karen, now a graduate of UNC, was a wonderful, astute choral student with perfect pitch who sang with GYC. Her other daughter, Susan, who will graduate from high school next year, is a gifted singer and flutist."

Doyle said Connor is an important member of the GYC team who coordinates, initiates, communicates, formulates and operates every detail of the program. She has recently been offered a staff position as parent/staff coordinator for the GYC.

GYC celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special May 10 concert, which proved to be a huge success. There were many returning singers from as far back as 1988. Chad Merritt, one of Doyle's first singers, sang with the alumni choir and spoke on behalf of the alumni association.

Doyle said many GYC singers have gone on to become music educators and performers. She feels proud of all her students and is glad she has had the opportunity to plants seeds for their musical beginnings.

"Hearing from former students all over the U.S. who say they are still singing for pleasure and participate in their community choirs, churches and in their homes - this is the heart of the matter," Doyle noted.

"They have been sparked by how music can move the soul, and that is a treasure they will enjoy for a lifetime."

To nominate a person who has made a difference in the lives of others in Guilford County, contact Peggy Longmire at 288-9040 or send her e-mail at rlongmire@triad.rr.com