Bill Text: MS SC510 | 2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commend musical excellence of Select Chorus at Forrest County Agricultural High School.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2020-02-11 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC510 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2020-SC510-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Johnson, Barnett, Jackson (32nd), Witherspoon
Senate Concurrent Resolution 510
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MUSICAL AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE OF THE SELECT CHORUS AT FORREST COUNTY AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL.
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we join the students, faculty and parents of Forrest County Agricultural High School in honoring the hard work and musical achievements of the Select Chorus at Forrest County Agricultural High School under the direction of Andrew T. Smigielski; and
WHEREAS, Forrest County Agricultural High School was established in 1911 by an act of the Mississippi Legislature as an agricultural boarding school located on 320 acres of donated land. Students from across Mississippi, the United States and several foreign countries have been educated at the school. In 1996, the school was listed as a Mississippi Landmark by the Historical Society. Today, Forrest County Agricultural High School serves students in grades nine through 12, providing all of the offerings of a larger metropolitan city school in a small educational setting. It is Forrest County Agricultural High School's belief that all students can meet high standards for rigorous academic work, offering advanced academic coursework, as well as, extracurricular services that support students at all levels of academic progress; and
WHEREAS, each year, the Louisiana Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association chooses up to six groups to have the honor of singing a concert session for the State Conference. Typically only three of those groups are below the collegiate level. In 2019, the Forrest County Agricultural High School Select Chorus is one of three high school choirs that were selected for this honor; and
WHEREAS, to be selected, a choir must submit two years of audition recordings and proposed program of music. Forrest County Agricultural High School chose a program entitled "Psalms and Spiritual Songs" and submitted recordings from 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years. The program featured two pieces that were written for this group in honor of the occasion. This honor carries additional distinction as the chorus was selected from outside the State of Louisiana, representing both the school and the great State of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, the Select Chorus, Forrest County Agricultural High School's advanced-level choir is in its fourth year and is one of the four major choirs at the high school. It also doubles as a Treble Ensemble and Contemporary Pop A Cappella group, The Unaccompanied Minors. Those groups compliment the three other ensembles in the choral program. This group has consistently earned superior ratings at District, State and National competitions. They have also won the award for Best in Class in the Women's Choir from 2015-2017 and Ensemble divisions from 2016-2017, at the Riverland Choral Festival. They made their American Choral Directors Association Conference debut with a program entitled "Grant Us Peace" at the 2019 Mississippi State Conference of the Mississippi Music Educators Association and the American Choral Directors Association; and
WHEREAS, on November 6, 2019, the group gave its "Send off Concert" at Forrest County Agricultural High School for the students and staff. After the group sang for the Annual Forrest County Agricultural High School Veterans Day Celebration they departed for New Orleans, Louisiana, where they sang at the historic Immaculate Conception Jesuit Church for an audience of 1,500 Music Educators, All-State Honor Choir Participants, Clinicians and distinguished guests. On November 9, 2019, the choir competed at the Riverland Choral Festival in Pearl, Mississippi, and earned three Superior Ratings, three Best in Class Honors and Grand Champion for the Choir Division; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these outstanding students and instructors who have brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Forrest County Agricultural High School, and extend to the students, faculty and supporters our best wishes for future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Director of Choral Activities Andrew T. Smigielski, Forrest County Agricultural High School Principal Will Wheat, and Superintendent Dr. Donna Boone, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of Forrest County Agricultural High School, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
