Thank You For The Music...

I'm inspired to do sort of a continuation from my last post...or perhaps an addendum. Over the past month, I have made the round to lots and lots of shows. It all started with an amazing performance by around 60 special needs teens and adults through our Jesters program. Next came the ACT (Artists of Christian Talent) annual musical at Lake Highlands UMC. I was a part of those shows throughout junior high and high school so it is always fun to go back. That was quickly followed by our amazing children's choirs at Highland Park UMC and their version of Rescue in the Night. The kids worked so hard and it was a fabulous show. It just gets better each year. This past weekend started with ESPREE show. For those who don't know, ESPREE is the show choir at Lake Highlands High School. The year I spent in ESPREE will forever be one of the best years of my life. The weekend ended with the HPUMC Youth Choir's annual Dessert Theatre. This years theme included songs from the movies. It was so great and a great ending to the 2011 "Tour of Shows."

With all of that said, it brought me back all to all those years ago starting out with 5th Grade choir and participation in 3 talent shows, 2 children's musicals, 2 show choirs, 6 musicals, 6 dessert theaters, 5 auditioned choirs, and 14 choir tours taking me all around Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Chicago, West Virginia, Missouri, Colorado and even Europe. There have been songs of every genre and loads of different languages. Through all those years and with all of the musical geniuses have been fortunate enough to know, I find myself blessed beyond words.

When budgets are maxed out, the first thing to always seem headed for the chopping block is some form of the arts. I will tell you all that no doubt...without the arts, I would not be who I am today. Music is still so important to me. I sing any and everywhere I can (which now is mostly the shower and the car). There is something about communicating through music that comes to me so easily. I truly feel every lyric that I sing.

So, with that said (be it long-winded), I would like to pay homage to some of those aforementioned musical geniuses. Since this is already long, I will introduce you to the players, where I experienced their leadership and a song that always brings back to my time within their leadership...starting from the beginning. (Some of these will be repeats from my previous posts)

Jan Baker-5th grade choir at Wallace Elementary-"This Song is For the Children"
Dana Effler-5th & 6th grade choirs at Lake Highlands UMC-"Babble at Babel" & "A Technicolor Promise"
*Glenda Casey-6th Grade RISD All-District Choir-"The Pledge of Allegiance"
Melanie Moore-7th Grade Choir at Lake Highlands JH-"Love in Any Language"
Melinda Cotten-b/w 8th & 9th Grade Pop Music Workshop-"Seize The Day"
Michael O'Hern-7th-9th Grade choir at Lake Highlands JH & 10th-12th Grade Choir at Lake Highlands HS
JH Choir at Lake Highlands JH-"Turn Around"
Limited Edition-"We Go Together"
HS Choir at Lake Highlands HS-"Benediction"
ESPREE-"Daydream Believer"
Dale Daniels-8th-12th Grade Choir at Lake Highlands UMC-"God Be in My Head"
Jeanette Ward (& the original One Heart)-"One Heart" & too many more to name them all
Stephen Eaves-Chanters & Chamber Choir at McMurry-"Lonesome Road" &"Praise to the Lord"
Conrad Bratton-Choir Director at The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest-"My Eternal King"

The following are people that I don't necessarily have a song that stands out, but their leadership has blessed me along the way:
Cindy Frith-Voice Instructor 8th-12th Grade
Kari Gilbertson-Part of the LH Music Team
Lisa Cunningham-Part of the LH Music Team
Terry Berrier-Associate Choir Director at Lake Highlands HS
Mollie McCullough-Long-time Choral Director at Lake Highlands HS (left right before I got there)
Shelly Kennedy-College Voice Instructor
*Mary "Mama Mary" Pritchard-Staff Accompanist at McMurry
*David Davidson-Dallas Symphony Chorus Director
Chris Brunt-Staff Organist at Highland Park UMC

Those with a * next to their name means that they left this world much to soon and are greatly missed.

To each & every one of you:
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing.
Thanks for all the joy their bringing.
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty?
What would life be?
Without a song and dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music;
For giving it to me!