E-Letter 08/7/2004

AHS Students Need Your Support
A letter from AHS Choral Director Ricki Prewitt

Dear Ackerman School Alumni and Supporters,
 

     A few years ago, I was sitting at my desk observing while a Mississippi State practice teacher taught my Boy’s Ensemble class. It was a class of 17 boys, grades 9 through 12. There were athletes, band members, honor students, just a general mixture of the kind of students we have at Ackerman High School. Quite unexpectedly, my eyes suddenly filled with tears as I realized what was happening. I had been given the opportunity to bring God’s wonderful gift of music to these students. Few, if any of them would be professional musicians. But they would help to fill up church choirs. They would sit around and sing with their families at Christmas time. And they would be music supporters for all of their lives.

     Since I have been at Ackerman High School for the past seven years, I have three times been contacted by larger schools to come and interview for a job opening. My answer has been “no” each time because I love Choctaw County and am committed to the choral program at AHS, which includes five of my seven grandchildren. Choctaw County students deserve and need your support as well.

     Our choral program includes many fine teachers through the years. Madeline Wood really built the program during her tenure as choral director. There have been others who have done their part to keep it going. Kathy King probably has the most number of years invested in the program, and she consistently produced superior ensembles that brought the AHS choral program statewide recognition.

     We need your help in two ways: One is the Grand Piano Project that was begun by the Ackerman Reunion Group. Over $8,500 has been raised so far with a goal of $19,000 by September 1. Please give generously according to how God has blessed you. We are privileged to have one of the finest auditoriums anywhere around, but it needs a decent piano to complete it. A Grand Piano Fund account has been established at Ackerman High School, 126 East Quinn Street, Ackerman, MS 39735. Make your check payable to Ackerman High School and designate somewhere on your check that it is for the Grand Piano Fund. Contributions are tax deductible and a receipt will be provided. You may want to send your donation as a memorial or in honor of a former administrator, teacher or classmate of Ackerman School. The school will send an acknowledgement of donation to those you are honoring or family of those you are remembering if you will provide them an address.

     The second thing you can do is to join us for a big concert on August 28 at 7 pm in the Ty A. Cobb Auditorium. We are calling all former participants in the AHS choral program to meet in the auditorium at 2 pm on August 28 to rehearse several numbers for performance that evening. We also have other entertainment planned, including some special entertainment from Jan Irving Bruening and Patrick Perkins. What we are especially interested in doing is bringing back together as many former sextets and quartets as we can to have them perform for us. We want all those who are interested to come and sing with us. Also, if you were a member of a sextet or quartet, try to get in touch with your fellow singers and get them to come.

     There will be no admission charge to this concert, but, if we are not at our goal, we will be soliciting donations. If you are interested in participating, please email me at rprewitt@telapex.com. Anything you can do to help us will not be wasted but will contribute to the lives of young people through the music program.

Ricki Prewitt
Choral Director
Ackerman High School

A Grand Piano Music Spectacular
Sponsored by the Ackerman School Reunion Group

What:     A Grand Piano Music Spectacular
When:    Saturday, August 28, 7 PM
Where:   Ty A. Cobb Auditorium - Ackerman High School
Why:      To Celebrate our goal of $19,000 for the Grand Piano
Cost:      FREE - An offering will be received to complete the goal

    You are invited to a reunion of Ackerman School alumni, classmates and friends to be held at the Ty A. Cobb Auditorium on Saturday, August 28, 2004 at 7 pm.  The purpose of the event will be to celebrate the completion of our campaign to raise $19,000 for a replacement grand piano for the Ty A. Cobb Auditorium. The Yamaha Conservatory Series Grand Piano will already be delivered to the auditorium and the performances will feature this wonderful instrument.  

     The event will showcase the vocal, piano and choral talents of former and current students of the Ackerman School music program.  Watch the paper next week for a listing of some of the performers.  

     As a special feature of the evening, we wish to invite everyone who participated in the music program while attending Ackerman School to come together for a special Reunion Chorus performance on the evening of August 28^th.  There will be a rehearsal of the Reunion Chorus at 2 pm in the auditorium on the afternoon of August 28^th.  

     Please plan to join us for an evening of entertainment, reunion and mission. We urge all alumni and friends to come for of your love and appreciation for Ackerman School in order to make an important investment in the current and future generations of choral, vocal and piano students at AHS.