MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2018 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Calhoun, Sykes, Wooten, Bell (65th), Holloway, Banks, Gibbs (72nd), Clarke, Dortch, Middleton, White
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE MURRAH HIGH SCHOOL MURRAH CONCERT SINGERS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CHORAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND FOR BEING INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AT THE WORLDSTRIDES ONSTAGE FESTIVAL CONCERT TOUR IN ITALY.
WHEREAS, the Murrah Concert Singers from Murrah High School in Jackson, Mississippi, have been invited to participate in the WorldStrides OnStage Festival Concert Tour in Italy, where they will participate in four cities across the country, Florence, Rome, Venice and Milan, during their Spring Break in March 2018; and
WHEREAS, dating back to recordings from the 1950s and 1960s, the Murrah Choral Department is known as one of the best choral departments throughout the district, state and nation, and is comprised of the Murrah Concert Singers, Murrah Madrigals, Girls Choir, Boys Choir, Sextet and Quartet, with all of these groups having competed at the district, state and national levels, where they have been perpetually rated from advanced to superior levels; and
WHEREAS, because of their superior performances, the Murrah Concert Singers have been invited to compete at festivals across the nation where they have received numerous honors and awards, including a district superior rating in 2008, 2009 and 2010; a state superior rating in 2009 and 2010; a superior rating for Concert Singers at Festival Disney in Orlando, Florida, where they competed against almost 300 choral groups; and the highest average for all choirs at a festival in New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, the Murrah Concert Singers were invited to attend The Heritage Festival of Gold for Honor Choirs in New York City at St. Bartholomew's Cathedral, where they were privileged to work with internationally acclaimed composers such as Dr. Andre' Thomas and Dr. Jeffrey Redding; the choir also competed in Washington, D.C., and at the Choral Festival at Spellman College in Atlanta, Georgia, rising above over 100 choirs; they further received an invitation to Chicago, Illinois, where they recorded live, with other honor choirs, a commissioned piece conducted by world renowned composer and conductor, Dr. Rene Clausen; and
WHEREAS, the choir competed at the River Land Choral Festival in Pearl, Mississippi, where the choir and madrigals received all superior ratings: Best in Class awards in all categories, Best Overall Choir award and Highest Score Overall award, and then the choir competed against 126 choirs in Atlanta, Georgia, at the WorldStrides Heritage Choral Festival and won overall with Girls Choir having the highest score of 98; and
WHEREAS, after the choir's win at the festival in Atlanta, they were invited to Los Angeles, California, to compete at the WorldStrides Encore Performance Festival of Gold where they received all superior ratings and the Girls Choir received the highest score of 98, and upon receiving this honor the choir was invited to perform on the international level at the WorldStrides International Concert Tour in four cities across Italy; and
WHEREAS, since 2008, the Murrah Concert Singers have been under the leadership of the Director of Choral Activities, Mr. Pierrdro Gallion, a graduate of Jim Hill High School who studied music education with an emphasis on vocal performance at the University of Southern Mississippi and who earned his degree from Jackson State University, and with his inspiration and their amazing talent, the singers continue to soar on wings of musical excellence; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to commend remarkably gifted students, such as the Murrah Concert Singers, whose tremendous talent and dedication brings honor to their school, community and the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the Murrah Concert Singers for their outstanding choral achievements and for being invited to participate at the WorldStrides OnStage Festival Concert Tour in Italy, and wish them the best in all of their future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Pierrdro Gallion and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.