Winter Concert

Last night was the Winter Concert and Art Show at Veritas. It's actually two concerts: the jr. high recorder concert and then the high school choral concert. Veritas has two amazing music teachers in Ms. Manjola Koci, who teaches the junior high classes and directs one of the extracurricular choral groups, and Dr. Laura Inman, still fondly called Ms. Inman by her students, who directs the high school and other choral groups. The music is amazing especially considering that all of the kids participate, not just the ones who want to take music. And the great part is, I think there are very few that don't learn to love it.

Gunner is playing tenor recorder this year and music is now one of his favorite classes. Ms. Koci is both stern and playful. I don't know anyone who can combine stand-up comedy and fear like she does, but those students listen and learn and have a lot of fun, too. She and Gunner get along great. Chris is going to try to find an instrument for her in Iraq, maybe a recorder or flute of some kind. Or maybe just a postcard. :-) She goes to all the jr. high events, football games, etc. in support of her students.

Lauren's in the Honors Choir, made up of juniors and seniors who now no longer take music (they are in drama and art) but still want to sing. They auditioned for it and it's meant to be an outreach group to the community, singing for events and being Veritas ambassadors. They recently sang at a fund raising gala for the Rotary and will sing God Bless America during the Fiesta Bowl pre-game. The big event this year is a trip to Carnegie Hall to sing part of the Easter Mass by Mozart. That will be such an amazing experience for Lauren. New York! Dr. Inman finished her doctorate from ASU in conducting last year, is in the Grammy-winning Phoenix Bach Choir and also conducts the largest choir at ASU as a faculty associate.

A few pictures from the concerts...

Ms. Koci

Our little camera did the best it could.

Gunner and his friends Ben King and Matthew Zabilski. Trouble is brewing, no doubt, but Ms. Koci has them under control.

What you can't see in these pictures is Ms. Koci dancing as she directs.

Gunner and his friend Hannah Tesoriero. I sat with her mom Brenda during their concert.

It's hard to get a natural picture of him. He's such a goofball.

Here's our Lauren in the alto section. She feels short in the back row.

Friends and classmates Brian Oliver, Lauren and Andrea Taylor.

And the obligatory photo of BFFs Lauren and Tara Godzich:

Tara's mom Natalie and I sat together for their concert. It wasn't easy to hold back the tears - I always do that when there are young people performing. I don't even have to know them. Then it's your kids, and they're seniors and you throw in a good patriotic song like America the Beautiful and I had to really concentrate. Wow, they received such applause. Dr. Inman may be tiny but she is a powerful leader and those kids love to sing for her. I'll get a picture of her next time, maybe. She moves around pretty quickly.

Great night and more proof positive that this school is so worth all the driving and the studying.