LAKEWOOD, Ohio — After more than 35 years with the district, Lakewood High School Director of Orchestra Elizabeth Hankins recently retired.
“The decision to retire wasn’t difficult, it really wasn’t,” said the Lakewood resident.
“It just took me a little bit of time to realize it.”
Hankins said she would have retired last year if it weren’t for the last month’s star-studded high school fundraiser “EC50: A Celebration of Eric Carmen’s Musical Legacy” held at the Lakewood Civic Auditorium.
Growing up outside of Detroit, the Okemos High School graduate was exposed early to the power of music.
“I started piano at the age of 3,” she said.
“When I became a fifth-grader, I joined the orchestra and played the viola. That program was amazing.”
As a member of the orchestra, she traveled to Europe and South America.
During her visits overseas, she discovered an inherent truth shared among all musicians no matter where they called home.
“Young people are committed to music,” she said. “That is the common language, no matter what country you’re in.
“When I was young, I was exposed to greatness and not being fearful, so I brought that here.”
That mindset would end up defining her legacy at Lakewood High School.
Roughly 10 years into her career, Hankins — who admittedly was hungry for success but shy — on the advice of a high school administrator was encouraged to see a then burgeoning prog-rock holiday act that in the end changed her future while inspiring thousands of students.
“I took the chamber orchestra at the time to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which I just thought was an orchestra from Siberia,” she laughed. “When I walked in, my kids ran to the front row and their eyes lit up like I’ve never seen them so excited about music.
“I thought, this is the new way and it’s not necessarily the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It’s about connecting to kids and then teaching them through what they care about — rock music.”
A year later, The Lakewood Project made its debut with a sold-out show at the Rock Hall.
Since then, the outfit performs three times a year featuring dozens of student musicians who compose, program, arrange and perform their own electric rock orchestra show.
“It’s the biggest thing that I’ve done and the reason for that is because it’s a new way of teaching,” she said. “In the Lakewood Project, the students work together as a team and figure out how to communicate. And because of that, they’re so well-rounded as musicians.
“They may not be the very best classical musicians, but they certainly can play on any stage in any genre. So it’s about empowering them to make music the way that they feel comfortable about.”
In fact, Hankins said her retirement will include not only working as an adjunct orchestra teacher at Case Western Reserve University, but also lecture touring and teaching her knowledge of the Lakewood Project concept around the country.
There’s also talk of writing a book about the student-driven outfit.
“I’m grateful for Lakewood City Schools for giving me basically a blank whiteboard, telling me to dream, not putting any barriers in my way, listening and helping my students and me flourish,” she said.
“And because of that, I’ve grown tremendously and I’ve come up with amazing ideas that have had a strong impact on music education.”
That includes allowing one student after enough to enjoy amazing musical opportunities through higher education or personal enjoyment when leaving the school.
“My message to this community is, believe in your children, believe in your teachers, support your schools and protect what you have,” she said.
“You have no idea how unique Lakewood is. Keep it special.
“During my entire time that I’ve been here, Lakewood has never shied away from going against the grain — and that’s what makes it special.”
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