Edla Hilts

is honored with a Brick from Choral Arts.

Edla Rickard Hilts graduated from Wichita University in 1952. Since then, she has spent a lifetime serving this community in music. She has served several churches, Hillside Christian and East Heights United Methodist, as organist. Edla taught five years at West High School when it opened, working with hundreds of students in vocal music. She directed choirs at East Heights United Methodist and First United Methodist for 35 years. Not only did she bring adult choirs to full potential vocally, but she instilled in her singers a love for choral singing as a witness of faith.

For 20 years, Edla Hilts directed Choral Arts, a unique chorus of women with professional voices. This group was well known over the city and county for a beautiful sound and sight, performing with dance, scenery and costumes.

Mrs. Hilts and her husband, Jim, have three grown children, Lisa, Rick and Rebecca, and five grandchildren.

Not only has Edla encouraged and helped the talents of many to grow and to grow more glorious, she has given Wichita a great gift with the use of her own talent. She has given us a better life quality with her own lifetime of music.

Edla has been a strong supporting member, since college, of Mu Phi Epsilon, international music fraternity.

Submitted by Sally Dewey

July 7, 1998