Somehow there seems to be a little pause in the cadence of life when a music teacher retires, especially one who believes every music student deserves to be on stage at least once.

The Walnut Hills High School Instrumentalists' Parents and fellow music teachers celebrated the career Wednesday of one such music teacher, Susan Little, who is retiring after 30 years.

She leaves a legacy that fellow Walnut Hills music teacher John Caliguri calls Little's Cast of Thousands.

Susan Little directs the intermediate band at Walnut Hills High School. She is retiring after 30 years of teaching music. Photo provided

When Little was directing junior high musicals, Caliguri said: "Susan was aware that for many of these kids, it would be their last opportunity to appear on stage in a theatrical production. So, she encouraged everyone to try out and did her best to find even small parts for any student interested in performing."

She also is known for spreading the joy of music from southwestern Ohio classrooms to countries around the world. Little has taken orchestras and concert bands to Spain, Mexico, Paris, England and Canada.

She said her hope has always been that students would leave her hands as better musicians, and she wanted her students to develop a love and appreciation for the arts.

A quarter horse named Duke will be listening to her music now.

"My husband (Marty Spicer) just bought me the horse," Little said. "I had a horse I sold when I was 18 years old to get money to go to college."

Fifth Third CEO honored

The Salvation Army bestowed its highest community service award - titled "Others" - upon George Schaefer, Fifth Third Bank president and chief executive officer, last week at its annual luncheon.

The award recognizes Fifth Third's commitment to community development, education, arts and health care throughout the company's eight-state region.

"On behalf of our 19,000 associates, I am honored to accept this award," Schaefer said. "I am grateful for the Salvation Army's affirmation of our philosophy that if you build a stronger community, you build a stronger bank."

New AME building

BOND HILL - The oldest black congregation west of the Allegheny mountains today will dedicate its third home in its 180-year history.

The Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church - founded in 1824 by former slave Isaac Jones and named for the founder of the AME church, Richard Allen - worshipped for the first time in the state-of-the-art church last Sunday. The congregation will have its official dedication services at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. today.

"It is a modern-day cathedral, not only for the church but for the world," said Jermaine Covington, youth minister at the more than 1,000-member church.

The new building, located at Jordan Crossing, formerly known as Swifton Commons, includes a 1,200-seat sanctuary with multimedia equipment, meeting rooms and multipurpose areas. It cost about $4 million and is part of a $40 million redevelopment project in the area by the Cincinnati Hamilton County Community Action Agency.

"We felt we needed to invest in our own community, and Bond Hill is undergoing great development," Covington said. "We're proud to be a part of that."

The congregation had been meeting in a vacant building on the 34-acre site of the old mall since leaving its Roselawn church on Reading Road.

Bishop Robert V. Webster, presiding prelate of the Third Episcopal District, will dedicate the church. The celebration also will include several out-of-town guests and performances by the Phoenix Community Learning Center Children's Choir and the Praise Chorale led by Mark Williams.