Iris Stevenson facts for kids

Iris Stevenson-McCullough is an American teacher and choir director. She is known for her amazing work with school choirs. The 1993 movie Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit was inspired by her time as a choir director at Crenshaw High School.

Early Life and Music Journey

Iris Stevenson grew up in Buffalo, New York. Her father was a worker and a musician, and her mother worked at home. Iris loved music from a very young age. She started writing music when she was just three years old. By the time she was seven, she was already performing!

When she was fifteen, Iris received a special scholarship. This allowed her to study music at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. After college, she taught at Canisius College. She also earned a master's degree in music education from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Teaching and Choir Success

In 1985, Iris Stevenson moved to Los Angeles. She became a music teacher at Crenshaw High School. This school is in Los Angeles and has many African-American students. She teaches students how to play piano, sing in a choir, and understand music theory.

Under her guidance, the Crenshaw High School choir became very famous. They performed on national television shows many times. In 1992 and 1993, she took the choir to perform at the Worldwide Music Festival in Nice, France. The choir also won first place four years in a row at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. Today, Ms. Stevenson leads the entire Music Department at Crenshaw High School.

Inspiration for a Movie

In May 1991, many teachers in Los Angeles faced losing their jobs. Iris Stevenson spoke out against this. Her strong voice caught the attention of a film producer named Dawn Steel. Dawn Steel was so impressed that she decided to make a movie inspired by Iris's story. This movie became the musical comedy Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.

Challenges and Continued Impact

In 2014, the Crenshaw Choir performed at the White House for President Barack H. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. After this big event, Ms. Stevenson faced a challenge with the school board. She was prevented from teaching for a period of time. This led to protests outside the high school by people who supported her.

Iris Stevenson also took part in a show called American Hustle Life. On this show, she taught members of the famous South Korean boy band BTS about hip hop music. She taught Suga, V, and Jungkook important basics.