There’s more to the story than enthusiastic, well-mannered, holiday song-singing fifth graders who represented their school and the Lakeland community.
Choir director Tonya Miller is well known by the Peabody special events coordinator, Tommie Pardue, and was asked specifically to bring the Lakeland Middle Preparatory School (LMPS) choir to the Hotel for today’s performance.
Mrs. Pardue, who has worked with the Hotel’s holiday program since 1981 when the Hotel reopened, said she knows Mrs. Miller from her time as Orff Music teacher at White Station Elementary and her reputation there. She said she doesn’t usually ask a first-year teacher to bring her students to The Peabody.
She praised the LMPS students who sang a medley of Christmas/Hanukah/Holiday songs for an hour in front of the grand Christmas tree in the Peabody Lobby.
“They are remarkable,” said Mrs. Pardue, a well-known figure in the Memphis music community. “They are all singing on pitch. They are just angelic.” She also noted the students sang so well despite the choir and school only being in existence four months. LMPS is the second school in the Lakeland School System and opened to grades 5-8 this August.
Many families and friends of the students, as well as guests at the Hotel, filled the Lobby Bar and Mezzanine to listen and watch as the students, dressed in holiday attire, included what Mrs. Miller calls “body percussion” to make the routines entertaining to both the students and audience as they sing the songs.
Matt Adler, LMPS principal, was on hand to congratulate the students and recognize their performance.
Following the concert, the students were to have pizza lunch before heading to Lakeland City Hall to carol for City employees.
Sixth, seventh and eighth grade choir members are to sing the National Anthem tonight at a Grizzlies Night for LMPS.
Kim Denbow, mom of Maggie Hackney, said the choir members practice weekly after school. She said her daughter sings the songs even at bedtime, noting she is very enthusiastic about choir.
Link to photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PUFuwyftaZTm6irO2
Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
