'Songs for a Spring Day'

The Mercer University Children’s Choirs, an outreach program of Townsend School of Music, will perform “Songs for a Spring Day,” their final free concert in Macon this school year before embarking on their national tour. The program, conducted by Dr. Richard Kosowski, assistant professor of voice and Marti Parker, music specialist at Alexander II Elementary School, will include selections that they will perform when on tour this summer to St. Louis, Mo., and Nashville and Memphis, Tenn.

The Mercer University Children’s Choirs are comprised of more than 60 students from public and private schools throughout Central Georgia, ranging in age from nine to 17. Members are selected through annual auditions where they are required to sing scales, sight read, read rhythms and sing a prepared piece. Most come from vocal backgrounds either in school orchurch and represent some of the most talented young singers in our community. Dr. Kosowski conducts the Touring Choir and Parker conducts the Preparatory Choir, together they co-conduct the Cantiamo and Exultemus choirs.

“The tour gives these young musicians the opportunity to be ambassadors for Central Georgia,” Dr. Kosowski said. “This year’s theme is Rolling Down the River: Gateway to America. We are making stops at locations that are related to the civil rights movement. We’re going to the Civil Rights Museum, the Lorraine Motel and the courthouse in St. Louis where Dred Scott was tried. In Memphis we’re going to visit Stacks Recording Studio and tour Gibson Guitar. We’re also singing at Graceland and visiting Elvis’ home in Tupelo.”