High school choir director makes 16-year-old star singer to perform with laryngitis, faces payback in her junior year: 'I was humiliated. I wanted revenge'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jul 19, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

The only thing worse than doing something that you really don't want to do when you're sick is somebody else forcing you to do something that you don't want to do when you're sick. More often than not, pushing your body when it is already run down is not going to produce optimal results. Nonetheless, that is exactly what some people insist on doing anyway.

When you are relying on somebody to show up for something and they fall ill, it can be incredibly frustrating. However, it is almost always the best policy to give them the time to recover instead of trying to make things happen regardless. If this doesn't happen, things often will not turn out as planned, and even worse, it can give a person a very good reason to have a vendetta against you. In short, it is best not to mess with a sick person, especially if a lot is at stake.

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  • 01

    Make Me Sing When I'm Sick? I'll Make You Retire.

    A little context before I start this story- for my high school at least, solo and ensemble participation (for the first round) was mandatory, and the number of kids who went onto further rounds reflected better on the director. To have a kid not participate/drop out was a HUGE problem. I (34f) have never been a petty person, and this was especially true back in high school when this story takes place. Back then I (16f) was truly quite the doormat, but my one source of true pride, nay, vanity was
    via Actual_Play_Bae
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10531439872
    via Hrant Khachatryan (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • One teenager taught this lesson to her high school choir director after he forced her to perform with the choir when she was ill. She came down with laryngitis two weeks before a major performance and wasn't able to sing when the time came.

    This embarrassment led her to seek revenge on her cruel choir director. The year after, her voice was in good enough shape for her to enact her plan. She recounted the story.

  • 03
    A little context before I start this story- for my high school at least, solo and ensemble participation (for the first round) was mandatory, and the number of kids who went onto further rounds reflected better on the director. To have a kid not participate/drop out was a HUGE problem. I (34f) have never been a petty person, and this was especially true back in high school when this story takes place. Back then I (16f) was truly quite the doormat, but my one source of true pride, nay, vanity was
    via Actual_Play_Bae
  • 04
    And then, my sophomore year of high school, I developed laryngitis the week of solo and ensemble. I was devastated. But I knew there was no way I could sing and possibly receive a good score, and that was my bigger issue. I was not going to f with my near-perfect solo and ensemble record, so I went to my choir director, who we'll call Mr. Fish (50m). Now Mr. Fish had been teaching at my high school for some years already and had been doing very well- we'd won competitions, gone on national tours
    via Actual_Play_Bae
  • 05
    So I got on the bus and participated in the solo and ensemble competition like Mr. Fish made me, and just like I knew was going to happen, when it came my turn to sing, I opened my mouth and nothing came out. I got a SIXTEEN OUT OF ONE HUNDRED as a final score. Mr. Fish refused to look at me when he handed me my scorecard, but I was pred. I was humiliated. I wanted revenge. So junior year comes around. I'm now (17f), and I've worked my a off for this year's solo and ensemble. My voice has never
    via Actual_Play_Bae
  • 06
    I let that announcement simmer for a day or so, I can't remember how long. But not too long afterwards, I sent an email to Mr. Fish, our assistant choir director, and the solo and ensemble director announcing that I would be dropping from first chair. This was a Friday evening, so I knew the havoc it'd wreak. The house phone started ringing almost immediately (this was the early 2000s), and my mom said it was Mr. Fish for me. I answered, and we started off with vague pleasantries before he nearl
    via Actual_Play_Bae
  • 07
    "Ah, yes, I thought you'd be curious. Do you remember last year's solo and ensemble when I told you I was sick and shouldn't participate but you made me do it anyway and I humiliated myself?" "...yes?" "That's why. Have a good night, Mr. Fish." *click* Mr. Fish announced his retirement not even three weeks later, though he finished out the rest of the school year. I made first chair again senior year.
    via Actual_Play_Bae
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10531440384
    via Hrant Khachatryan (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 09

    Commenters applauded her career-ending strategy.

    Coder Joe1 This makes my petty heart sing
    via CoderJoe1
  • 10
    Esau2020 Mine too except that mine has laryngitis and can't sing.
    via Esau2020
  • 11
    Sirenheat , you played the long game like a pro. First chair and poetic justice? Chef's kiss.
    via Sirenheat
  • 12
    zyzmog Wow, that is ice-cold revenge.
    via zyzmog
  • 13
    Tremenda-Carucha I've always admired people who can belt out a tune, me? I could barely carry a tune in a bucket. But hey, who needs perfect pitch when you've got sass.
    via Tremenda-Carucha
  • 14
    CqwyxzKpr Didn't he realize you may have damaged your vocal cords by trying to force you to sing. What an absolute tool. Great revenge
    via CqwyxzKpr
  • 15
    stillfreshet As a fellow (former) singer, I heartily approve of this revenge.
    via stillfreshet
  • 16
    Commercial-Novel-786 Hit them where it hurts. Well played!
    via Commercial-Novel-786
  • 17
    DrakonFyre "How do you like THEM lozenges?"
    via DrakonFyre
  • 18
    jbuckets44 What kind of havoc did your quitting on Friday create? --Not a music major.
    via jbuckets44
  • 19
    Actual_Play_Bae OP It left the entire weekend for my director to panic! I remember reading the announcement that the new first chair that year was a girl from one of our biggest rival schools (in sports as well, not just choir). I like to imagine that contributed to my director's retirement.
    via Actual_Play_Bae
  • 20
    avid-learner-bot That director thought he was in charge, but the real lesson here is never underestimate a choir kid with a vendetta and a perfect pitch for payback.
    via avid-learner-bot
  • 21
    delulu4drama You definitely hit a high note with this one ♪♪
    via delulu4drama
  • 22
    Zadojla And that's what can happen to people who are too invested in another person's performance.
    via Zadojla
  • 23
    Maleficentendscurse When He forced you to go to the competition when you were 16 you should have raspy said in the microphone "my a-he teacher is making me go to this competition when I have laryngitis he can sk on cr_p"
    via Maleficientendscurse

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choir teenager singing petty revenge teacher performance sick reddit thread Reddit entitled people
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