It was a notable spring afternoon for a notable event — “Launching the Lakeland Legacy; A Spring Concert Celebration” by the LMPS (Lakeland Middle Preparatory School) beginning and concert bands.
With sunny skies and 83°, the middle school Concert Band performed the world premiere of the “Garner Lake Portrait” at The LAMP, the outdoor amphitheater at IH Park in Lakeland today (5.6.18).
The first-ever spring concert for the bands featured the original composition by Dr. Peter Terry. It was commissioned by the City of Lakeland to celebrate the history of the City. Dr. Terry and his wife Lucia Unrau attended the concert.
Photos below by Olivia Hicks, a seventh grader at LMPS and daughter of Kristin and Geoff Hicks.
Anneliese Land, band director, described the event as celebrating the inaugural year for LMPS as well as the history of Lakeland. About 250 family members and friends attended the 45-minute concert.
LMPS opened to grades 5-8 in August 2017. Lakeland Elementary School serves grades K-4. Lakeland students go to Arlington High School (AHS) through an interlocal agreement until a high school can be built in Lakeland.
Dr. Terry publishes music with Carl Fisher Publication and lives in Murray, KY. He is frequently asked to commission works nationally and internationally, said Mrs. Land. “He and I are colleagues at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan.”
Mrs. Land explained that Dr. Terry worked with band students Friday (5.4.18) during rehearsal. She noted it was quite an opportunity for students to meet a living composer and ask questions about the process of creating music.
The original composition was about a year in the making, said Mrs. Land. “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. 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.”
Mayor Wyatt Bunker led the effort to have the musical piece commissioned for the City’s history and the concert presentation. Jim Atkinson, city manager, coordinated the financial support of the project, working with the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and 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.”
In recognition of eighth grade band members moving next year to AHS, the third song played by the Concert Band was directed by Tim Simpson, AHS band director.
There are 32 members of the Beginning Band and 42 in the Concert Band. Each played three pieces with a combined ensemble for the seventh composition, “Beale Street Strut”.
At the end of the performance, eighth grade students presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs. Land and posed for individual pictures with her. Mrs. Land commented, “Hopefully we made some great memories today, celebrating the Lakeland Legacy.”
Of the concert, Dr. Terry said, “Brilliant job. They were fun to work with.”
… Videos and Google album by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tyie8VhzaKmDrJdh1
