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Tricia Walker, director of Delta State University’s Delta Music Institute, welcomes members of the Winona School District Honor Choir to a recording session at DMI’s Studio A. |
Inspiration visited Delta State University’s Delta Music Institute (DMI) on Tuesday, Jan. 26, in the form of the Winona School District Show Choir. Approximately 135 choir members in grades four through 12 gathered in Studio A of the DMI to record a song to be entered in the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts School of Distinction in Arts Education competition.
Winona Elementary School Music Teacher Patti Finley directs the choir and arranged for the recording session with DMI Director Tricia Walker. “Patti has done an incredible job with these students and we were happy to welcome them to Delta State and introduce them to the DMI,” said Walker. “Studio A is a large format tracking room capable of accommodating up to 150 musicians and is probably the only recording studio in the region that has a recording environment to handle a choir of this size.”
“I have strong ties with Delta State,” said Finley. “My father played football here, I graduated in ’82, and my daughter, Stephanie, is currently a sophomore majoring in physical education. We are thankful for the opportunity to record at the DMI and for the assistance of Tricia and her staff.”
The choir recorded an original song by Finley titled “Rise Above.” “We chose the title as our theme because everyone can relate to it,” said Finley. “We all have to ‘rise above’ at some point in our lives so we thought the title would be appropriate.”
Finley, who is battling cancer, receives inspiration from her work. “Whoever coined the term ‘music is life’ knew what they were talking about,” she said. “Doctors advised me to get my affairs in order, but I don’t think God is finished with me yet. Music, these children, and the people of Winona have lifted me up and inspired me to keep fighting.”
Last year, the Mississippi Alliance of Arts Education recognized the Winona School District as the School of Excellence for the Arts in Mississippi. As a result, the Kennedy Center invited the Winona School District Show Choir to participate in the Performing Arts School of Distinction in Arts Education competition. Winona is one of only three Mississippi schools nominated to perform in the competition in the last 10 years.
“This is an art educator’s dream,” said Finley. “The students are thrilled and excited for this opportunity, and we teachers are honored to be a part of it.”
Former students are excited too. “It’s inspiring to see these young students having such a great opportunity,” said Chris Forrest, a Winona High School graduate and recording engineer for The Family Production Studio in Winona. “Helping with this program is my way of giving back and I thank God for the opportunity and for Ms. Patti.”
The recording will be sent to competition with the top five schools awarded the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. and visit with the President.
“This has been a community effort, and I must thank our sponsors, parents, friends, and dedicated teachers that make this program possible,” said Finley.
The Delta Music Institute is an independent center of study under the College of Arts and Sciences at Delta State University. The focus of the DMI is to provide students with a broad and thorough education in the technological, business, and creative areas of the music industry. For more information about DMI, call 662-846-4579 or visit http://dmi.deltastate.edu.
