By Kristin Hicks, LMPS parent
It was a big – and busy – week for Lakeland Middle Prep School’s (LMPS) 22-member honor choir and its director, Tonya Miller.
Link to Google album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/BmxTTrBRjGzHFeEY9
On Monday (3.25.19) the Honor Choir was treated to a tour of Rhodes College. The tour was arranged by Dr. Ellen Koziel, who directs the Rhodes Women’s Chorus. Garrinecia Singleton, a freshman Rhodes student from Baton Rouge, LA, and member of the Rhodes Women’s Chorus, led students around the 123-acre wooded campus.
Ms. Singleton was flooded with questions, including “What time is your first class?” (Ms. Singleton admitted her goal is to never take a morning class.) Others wanted to know how often there are campus parties, if the courses are difficult, and how stringent admission requirements are.
Students were shown “The Seal of Rhodes College” in the Cloister of Palmer Hall. Legend has it that if a student steps on the seal, he or she will not graduate on time, if at all. During commencement every year, members of the senior class are finally allowed to step on the seal.
A complimentary lunch was provided for the LMPS Choir. LMPS students ate alongside college students in the Rhodes Refectory, known on campus as “The Rat.” After lunch, students from the two singing groups joined together to practice for a performance which was last night (3.28.19) on the College campus.
https://vimeo.com/327319371
Prior to the Thursday evening Rhodes performance, the LMPS Honor Choir performed during the “Night of the Arts” at LMPS which started at 5 p.m. Honor choir then returned to the small, private liberal arts college on University Avenue for their second performance of the evening.
The college’s chorus performed several pieces, including “I Lift My Eyes” and “Creatures of Light.” The LMPS honor choir sang “Gratias Agimus Tibi,” “Sleep My Little Sea,” and “Snow Angel.”
For the final performance of the evening at the free concert, both the Rhodes Women’s Chorus and LMPS Honor Choir sang “God Will Give Orders/Sweet Child.”
Special guests included Emilia Vails on cello and Debbie Smith, piano accompanist, whom Dr. Koziel described as “a true music accompanist” because she plays an integral role in selecting the musical pieces.
Amy Emerson, whose daughter Shelby is a member of the Honor Choir, commented, “This was such a wonderful opportunity for our students to spend time touring a beautiful campus and then getting to perform with a college choir. I am so grateful to Tonya Miller for seeking out unique opportunities for our kids.”
The next performance for the LMPS Honor Choir is a competition Thursday (4.4.19) at Colonial Middle School. The entire LMPS Choir will also perform in the spring concert April 11 at St. Paul United Methodist Church.
Of the Monday field trip, Mrs. Miller commented, “My students had a lot of takeaways today. Just seeing what the future holds for them musically, as well as the small taste of college life, made for a wonderful field trip.”
… Photos, video courtesy of Kristin Hicks, LMPS parent
