Joan's Journeys: Music center performance at CCPC hit high notes for columnist By Joan Christian
It was June 8, the day of the Grovehurst Music Center's recital and weather predictions promised pleasant temps and sunny skies.
Christian Community Presbyterian Church provided its facility for the midafternon concert and award reception.
By 2 p.m. events planner, Donna Christian-Bruce, had completed the setting of flower bedecked tables, inventive place settings and platters of finger foods in Dodd Hall.
Students and guests would come to the hall following the recital to receive gifts of music and award certificates of achievement.
As if on cue, parents began arriving at 2:30.
They dropped off bouquets of flowers in the reception hall, checked last-minute grooming details of their young performers and proceeded to their seats in the sanctuary. The sun was beaming through the sanctuary windows as the program began.
The students, ranging in age from 6 to 11 years, displayed the composure of seasoned musicians. Some are in their third and fourth year of study at the music center, others are completing their first and second years, under my tutelage.
Completing their first year of music study are Kennedy Page Buck, 8, and Olivia Mitchell, 7, both third-graders at St. Pius X School. Joining the center last year are Akilah Sala Johnson, 6, a kindergartner at Perrywood Elementary School, and Kai Dawne Christian, 7, a first-grader at Heather Hills Elementary School. Lauren Alyse Taylor, 7, a second-grader at Pointer Ridge Elementary School, is beginning her third year of study at the center.
Nailah Ivana Tukpah, 7, a first-grader at Reid Temple Christian Academy in Glenn Dale, is in her second year of music study. These students presented solos and duets and poetry readings by Langston Hughes, much to the delight of the audience of parents, neighbors, teachers and friends.
I learned that the older students have demonstrated a passionate dedication to their instrument and consistently present an outstanding level of maturity in music theory, classical expression, technique and memorization.
These youngsters include Montessori student, Dasia Ayanna Jones, 8, who began her musical studies in January 2007. Clarence Vincent Verdun, 10, completing his third year at the center, will be entering the fifth grade at Beach Elementary School in Chesapeake Beach.
In their fourth year of study at the center are Elijah Theophilus Bruce, 9, who will enter the fourth grade at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., and Wahdae Yvonne Elliott, 10, who will enter the fifth grade at Holy Trinity School.
The varied musical program of this group included selections from Grieg, Offenbach, Schubert, Beethoven, Mozart, Pachelbel, Norman, traditional African American spirituals and the poetry of Maya Angelou.
What is so exciting about each youngster is the diversity of interests nurtured in and out of the home by their parents.
I began the Music Center in Grovehurst in response to the prodding of my son, Thomas Johnson, daughter, Donna Christian-Bruce, my grandson Elijah and neighbors Beverly and Ron Taylor.
It was not a difficult task for me to renew my passion for teaching music given my past experiences as a school curriculum designer, choral director, instrumental instructor and drama coach.
Throughout the years it has been my goal to share the beauty of the art, teach techniques and instill in each and every one of my students a love and respect for its spiritual connection, discipline, structure and innovative possibilities.
We gratefully acknowledge the gifts of vocal excellence of Denise McKenney and Shakile Lyles; our gratitude to the Rev. James Brassard and the congregation of CCPC for welcoming the center into their church home.
To the center's talented, committed and always inspiring students, never give up on going from good to great.
