Lloyd, 25, is in his second year as Manual High School’s choir teacher. With an energetic style, the Indiana Wesleyan graduate has already increased participation.

His classes are busy, bustling songfests. But he wants to expand beyond choir and is working on a plan to put on the school’s first musical in a decade next year.

“It’s just about the experience,” Lloyd said of choir and musical theater.

“It gives them something to belong to, and it helps with relationships — with the teachers but also with each other. Nobody wants to put on a bad show so they’re all going to be pulling for each other.”

— Matthew Tully