A Legacy of Tradition: Celebrating Four Fine Arts Legends of Quincy Public Schools

By: Katie Rodemich ’02

For generations of Quincy High School students, A Building was more than classrooms and rehearsal halls. It was where voices found strength, where spotlights revealed hidden confidence, and where music and performance transformed strangers into family.

Together, Clyde Bassett, Tom Burnett, Les Fonza, and Dan Sherman devoted more than forty years of leadership and artistry to QHS and the QPS Music Department. They demanded excellence, built community, and established traditions that continue to thrive. Their legacy is celebrated through music, performances, treasured memories, and lasting gratitude—a testament to the enduring power of teachers who believe in their students.

No history of QHS theatre, performance, or music is complete without this legendary “Dream Team.” These gentlemen each brought unique gifts to the program, but it was their collaboration that transformed the stage and shaped generations of students. On any given production, Burnett’s directing vision, Sherman’s choral artistry, Fonza’s powerhouse band, and Bassett’s “swell” orchestral excellence came together to create something larger than life. Their combined efforts turned every musical, performance, and concert into an event the entire community anticipated. In the process, students discovered not only the craft of theatre and music, but also the deeper lesson of teamwork—how voices, instruments, and staging unite in harmony to tell a story.

Dan Sherman – Maestro of the Choir

Dan Sherman is synonymous with choral music in Quincy. A Chicago native born in 1941, he came to Quincy for college and never left. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Quincy University (then Quincy College) and a master’s at Southern Illinois University—with additional postgraduate work at the University of Illinois and Western Illinois University—he began teaching at Quincy Junior High in 1964. There, he formed the school’s first mixed choir and madrigal ensemble before moving to QHS in 1969 as Choral Director, a position he would hold until his retirement in 2008.

When Sherman stepped onto the podium at QHS, he began building a program that would become legendary in Illinois. For more than four decades, his choirs set the standard for excellence, earning state honors and invitations to elite festivals. He founded the QHS Swing Choir—later known as the QHS Show Choir—in his very first year, introducing Quincy to a new style of singing and dancing that became a hallmark of the school’s music identity. In 1970, the group debuted at the New Faces variety show, soon earning the name “The Singing Ambassadors of Quincy.”

Sherman directed 41 musicals, beginning with My Fair Lady in 1969, and produced shows that consistently sold out, even pioneering Quincy’s first use of wireless microphones on stage. Among the many traditions he established, one remains especially powerful: before each musical performance and at the close of concerts, his choirs gathered to sing “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” His influence was not only musical but deeply personal, leaving every student feeling loved and accepted. That legacy endures through thousands of former singers who carry music into their lives and careers, most visibly each December when alumni return for QHS Vespers, raising their voices with current students in the “Hallelujah Chorus,” “Silent Night,” and the closing benediction of “The Lord Bless You and Keep You”—a tradition Sherman helped nurture. That simple blessing became his signature moment, sending audiences home inspired and reminding students that their music, and Sherman’s care for them, would always carry on.

Beyond QHS, Sherman’s impact stretched throughout the community. He conducted the Quincy Parochial Music Organization band for decades, played in the Quincy Park Band and Community Band, and led church choirs— all while advancing the arts throughout Quincy. In 2023, Arts Quincy recognized his lifetime of service with the George M. Irwin Lifetime Achievement Award—a fitting tribute to a man who spent more than half a century uplifting Quincy’s musical life.

That legacy of inspiration and warmth is remembered by Debbie Johnson, QPS Director of Music:

“What can I say except that Dan Sherman is truly iconic. From my first day on the job, he was always warm and welcoming and truly a champion for all things that had anything to do with Quincy Public Schools Music Department. From inspiring students in choir, to being the emcee at Octoberfest (with questionable pronunciations!), to habitually losing his keys, or just being an all-around cheerleader for every ensemble, Dan embodied the spirit of QHS Music.”

Tom Burnett – Staging a Lifetime of Inspiration

If Dan Sherman gave QHS its sound, Tom Burnett gave QHS it’s dramatic spirit. An Indiana native, he arrived in Quincy in 1973—the same year the new campus opened—and quickly transformed a bare auditorium into a home for storytelling, performance, and self-discovery. Joining a young fine arts faculty that included choir director Dan Sherman and orchestra director Wayne Pyle, Burnett staged his first production, South Pacific. It launched a three-decade era of musicals and plays—each one a testament to his vision, humor, and care, and together laying the foundation for traditions that became cornerstones of the QHS Fine Arts program.

Over the next 37 years, Burnett became the architect of countless memories on the QHS stage. His traditions—from quirky backstage contests to the beloved “Spam” breakfasts—bonded cast and crew into family, weaving memories that lasted long after the final curtain call. Even after a brief layoff during budget cuts in 1978, he returned stronger than ever, pouring his heart into every show until his retirement in 2010.

Burnett believed every role, no matter how small, was essential. He cultivated both confidence and community in every production, making the stage not just a place to perform, but a place to grow. Along the way, he coached the speech team and taught English with a flair for creativity, extending his influence far beyond the theatre. Through it all, he gave students permission to take risks, to lead with confidence, and to believe that their voices and stories mattered. For thousands of Blue Devils, his legacy is not only the shows that lit up the auditorium, but also the enduring lessons of resilience, creativity, and community that continue to echo in their lives today.

His influence continues to resonate from the wings, carried on by former students who now direct, perform, and teach—passing on the same confidence, creativity, and sense of community he instilled. One of those students is Meghan (Parks) Buckley ’02, QHS alumna and now QHS Theatre Director and English II teacher, who reflects on her unique perspective as both Burnett’s student and later his colleague:

“Since I am now the theatre educator at QHS, I have worked the most with Tom Burnett. I had the privilege of having Tom as my theatre teacher and director as well as a colleague and mentor when I started teaching. This means I have too many stories and it is hard to narrow it down to just one. A memory that I try to continue to do to this day is dressing room fun. Tom always had a conga line dance party at some point in the getting ready process. Tom could be seen applying specialty make-up to students while busting a move to 70s music blasting in the background. He put your mind at ease before you took the stage with light heartedness, and he made you run lines as you sat in the make-up chair to get you ready for the night. However, I never fell in love with his backstage delicacy of pork rinds and Tabasco sauce.”

That same blend of humor, inspiration, and impact is echoed by Debbie Johnson, QPS Director of Music:

“Tom might be genuinely one of the funniest people I have ever met. When I joined the staff in 1997, I did not have lots of interactions with him, but over the years as I became more involved at QHS, I truly was able to see his impact. He was inspiring to so many young actors and actresses and grew the theater program to what it is today. It was so awesome to watch him work with students and transform them into their individual characters. Tom can always be found checking out our latest productions. His ‘Herb Schwomeyer’ will always be shared and passed to the next generation of QHS students.”

Les Fonza – Leadership in Every Key and “Voice of God”

A Quincy native whose career as a music educator deeply influenced Quincy Senior High School and the wider community, Les Fonza was a proud 1963 graduate of QHS. After serving in the U.S. military, he earned his music education degree from Western Illinois University and began his teaching career in Dwight and Jacksonville, IL. The strong pull of home brought him back in 1986, and two years later he stepped onto the conductor’s podium once held by his mentor, Eddie Allen—a poignant passing of the baton from teacher to student.

For nearly two decades (1986–2005), Les Fonza upheld and advanced the Blue Devils’ storied music tradition. A former QHS trumpet player turned director, his journey came full circle as he returned to lead the very program that had shaped him. Under his leadership, the Marching Blue Devils, concert bands, pep bands, and jazz ensembles consistently earned superior ratings and brought energy to parades, competitions, and school events. He demanded discipline yet balanced it with warmth and humor, strengthening community ensembles and inspiring generations of Quincy musicians. Known for his booming laugh, trademark snazzy ties, and unmistakable “Voice of God”—echoing through the gym as he introduced the Blue Devil mascot to the haunting underscore of Phantom of the Opera, a tradition generations still celebrate and resounds at QHS performances—he became more than a director. He was the very pulse of the community. His influence stretched far beyond QHS. Fonza played clarinet in the Quincy Concert Band, saxophone with local jazz groups, and lent his talents to the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, the Quincy Park Band, church choirs, and countless pit orchestras. He believed music was meant to be shared and gave generously of his gifts, enriching Quincy’s cultural life at every turn.

Even after retiring in 2005, Fonza remained a mentor, often stopping by rehearsals to encourage the next generation. His lifelong dedication was recognized in 2022, when Arts Quincy presented him with the George M. Irwin Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring decades of service and a career devoted to both education and performance.

Today, his legacy resonates not only in the traditions of the Marching Blue Devils but also in the lives of countless students and community members he inspired. More than concerts and parades, he left Quincy with a soundtrack of pride, resilience, and joy that continues to echo across generations.

That spirit of mentorship and joy is remembered by Debbie Johnson, QPS Director of Music:

“Les Fonza has always been a good friend and mentor for me. As a student teacher in his classroom, he was always willing to let me take the reins (especially in the elementary building!). I shouldn’t talk about how he might take a nap in the corner then, right?!? He is a true joy to be around and loves everything about QHS Music. Many of our traditions with the band program are his inspirations and will live on through the band program. Thank you, Les, for your mentorship and for inspiring not only myself, but so many others to be the best version of ourselves.”

Clyde Bassett – Bridging School and Symphony

Clyde Bassett’s story is one of building bridges—between a school and its community, between classical and jazz, and between generations of musicians. Originally from Montana, he arrived in Quincy in 1989 to take on a unique dual role: director of the QHS orchestra and conductor of the Quincy Symphony Orchestra. Stepping into the shoes of retiring maestros, he embraced both jobs with gusto, leading rehearsals in the classroom by day and the city’s adult symphony by night.

A string player and skilled jazz performer, Bassett brought vibrancy to Quincy’s orchestral scene. He revitalized the high school string program, sometimes slipping jazz riffs into classical arrangements, and encouraging his students to share their music beyond the school walls. He welcomed community musicians into the program, inviting Symphony members to coach student sections and pairing QHS players with professionals in special side-by-side concerts. Under Bassett’s direction, the line between “school music” and “professional music” blurred in the best way: all became one musical family.

A passionate educator, Bassett was as comfortable teaching beginners as he was leading seasoned symphony players through Bach or Duke Ellington. Over nearly 17 seasons with the Quincy Symphony, he expanded the ensemble’s reach and caliber, programming classical masterworks alongside jazz favorites that reflected his wide musical loves.

Tragically, Bassett’s career was cut short in May 2005, when he passed away at just 50 years old following complications from heart surgery. At the time, he was in his 30th year of teaching—still preparing another season’s concerts and urging students to audition for summer camps. The news shook Quincy’s musical community, and his loss was deeply mourned by colleagues, students, and orchestra members alike. At the Symphony’s first concert after his passing, the podium stood empty, adorned with a single rose and his baton—a silent, powerful testimony to his impact.

Clyde Bassett’s legacy lives on in every note played by the QHS orchestra and every performance of the Quincy Symphony. His vision showed Quincy that music isn’t confined to one stage or one style—it is a bridge that unites people. In his honor, the Symphony established the Clyde Bassett Chair for its principal bass position, ensuring his name remains tied to its future. Many of his former students, now adults and even educators themselves, still credit him with sparking their lifelong love of music. His life’s work continues to resonate, a reminder of the joy, passion, and connection he brought to every rehearsal and every stage.

That impact is remembered warmly by Debbie Johnson, QPS Director of Music:

“What an amazing educator, bassist, colleague, and friend. Clyde was always able to bring a smile to everyone’s faces and was well liked by everyone. He was always reliable and hard working. I learned so much from watching him work with the orchestras. He was always able to lighten the mood with great ‘one-liners’ in a quiet and unassuming way. My fondest memories of Clyde were from watching him in the pit orchestra. ‘A Clean Pit is a Happy Pit’ and ‘Rubber Duckies’—if you know, you know!”

In 2023, Dan Sherman and Tom Burnett were inducted into the inaugural class of the QHS Hall of Fame, with Les Fonza following in the Class of 2025—recognition that affirms their profound and lasting influence on students and the community. Though Clyde Bassett’s life was tragically cut short, his legacy lives on through the Clyde Bassett Chair with the Quincy Symphony, a tribute that ensures his name and impact will continue to inspire for generations to come.

That inspiration is felt deeply by their students, including Ashley Burnett, QHS Class of 1998 and daughter of Dream Big honoree Tom Burnett:

“Honestly, I can say this about all four of them: each of these four made you—I’m getting chills just even talking about it—made you want to give everything you had. They inspired students to play as big as they could.”

That same devotion is echoed by Meghan (Parks) Buckley, QHS Class of 2002 alumna and now QHS Theatre Director & English II teacher:

“My years as a Blue Devil at QHS would not have been the same without my incredible fine arts teachers. As a student heavily involved in the arts, seeing the familiar and caring faces of Dan Sherman, Tom Burnett, Les Fonza, and Clyde Bassett made me feel at ease and cared for. This team taught me in the classroom, took me on school trips to Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, & North Carolina, and even hosted gatherings at their homes. There is not much about my high school career that doesn’t involve these four educators.”

The Quincy Public Schools Foundation is proud to celebrate Clyde Bassett, Tom Burnett, Les Fonza, and Dan Sherman at A Night to Dream Big, honoring their remarkable achievements as a testament to both the enduring impact of Quincy Public Schools and the community’s deep commitment to the arts. Together, this dream team of legendary educators—who shaped generations of students within the walls of “A Building”—represent more than four decades of teaching, mentorship, and artistry. Their influence continues to resonate in the lives of countless alumni and in the strong tradition of fine arts that defines Quincy High School.