Come May, there will be a LAMP concert so unique to Lakeland you won’t believe it.
The feature of the afternoon will be the world premiere of a new musical piece commissioned by the City to celebrate the history of Lakeland.
The music will be performed by two LMPS (Lakeland Middle Preparatory School) bands at 3:30 p.m. May 6 in the IH amphitheater known at The LAMP inside IH Park, 4523 Canada Rd. Cost for the concert is free, food will be available for purchase.
The music title is “Garner Lake Portrait” and the event is designated as “Launching the Lakeland Legacy: A Spring Concert Celebration.”
According to Anneliese Land, band director at LMPS, the concert “… will celebrate the inaugural year for LMPS with the premier of a work commissioned by the City that celebrates the history of Lakeland.”
LMPS opened to grades 5-8 in August 2017. Lakeland Elementary School serves grades K-4. Lakeland students go to Arlington High School through an interlocal agreement until a high school can be built in Lakeland.
Mrs. Land said, “Both LMPS bands will have the fortune of working with the composer of this piece during school the Friday before the performance, and the composer and his wife will be in attendance for the premiere of the work on May 6.
“In addition to performances by both the LMPS Beginning and Concert Bands, the event will include local food trucks for attendees to enjoy a meal following the performance. Come out on Sunday, May 6 to help Launch the Lakeland Legacy!”
The composer is Dr. Peter Terry, said Mrs. Land. He publishes music with Carl Fischer Publications and is frequently asked to commission works nationally and internationally. “He and I are colleagues at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan.”
Link to Dr. Terry’s website: https://peterterrycomposer.com/
Mrs. Land explains how the music and concert came to be. “I had the idea to have a piece written for the school when I was first hired. It is such a special year for our school and our City, and as such deserves special recognition and celebration.
“Dr. Terry and I began collaborating on this project in May 2017, and students are presently preparing the piece for its premiere. I wanted the piece to be a celebration of our City – past, present, and future. With this idea in mind, I sent Dr. Terry to some of the City of Lakeland’s historical websites. He was inspired by Lakeland’s storied past as an amusement park. These themes permeate the piece, as do (1) the spirit of celebration and excitement that surrounds our inaugural year at LMPS and (2) the promise of what is to come for our school and our city.”
She continued, “As this concert is a celebration of Lakeland, it follows that a great Lakeland venue like The LAMP would be a perfect place to perform. I have worked closely with Jim Atkinson (Lakeland city manager) to secure the venue and plan the event. I am currently working with local food trucks to be present at the event, as well, so that attendees can enjoy a meal at the park following the performance.”
Mrs. Land said Mr. Atkinson helped with the efforts on the financial support of the commission. “He is working with the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, as well as some local businesses, to sponsor the event and the commissioned work. The dedication on the piece of music reads, “Commissioned by the City of Lakeland, TN for the Lakeland Middle Preparatory School Concert Band; Anneliese Land, Director.”
Mr. Atkinson said Mayor Wyatt Bunker actually led the effort to have the musical piece commissioned for the City’s history and the concert presentation.
She noted the concert will be the full spring concert for the bands. “The LMPS Beginning Band and Concert Band will both perform, and then they will perform a combined piece together at the end of the concert.”
Performance Details
3:30 p.m.
May 6
The LAMP Amphitheater
IH Park – 4523 Canada Rd
