Friday, March 14th, 2008 the combined choirs of Salt River Elementary School and Salt River High School participated in MENC’s annual “World’s Largest Concert” event. MENC is the National Music Educators Association, an organization that supports music educators all over the country as they strive to teach music in the public schools. Each year these educators unite to teach their students the same eight songs to perform for the WLC (World’s Largest Concert). March 14th students everywhere joined together to sing these songs that are culturally diverse, patriotic and that celebrate the joy of making music. This year songs included; “Star Spangled Banner”, two African-American spirituals, a West African song, “Fanga Alafia” and a Lebanese friendship song, “Hala Lala Layya”. The Salt River combined chorus ended the program by singing “God Bless America” in O’Odham.
There are twenty-three members of the SRE chorus and twenty-seven members of the Salt River junior and senior high chorus. It was exciting to see fifty of our community students singing their hearts out! These students did a wonderful job, and Mr. Wakley and I couldn’t have been prouder. We look forward to making this an annual event each March as our schools observe “Music in our Schools” month.
Mr. Wakley and I want to thank all of our students and our parents and guardians. The support and encouragement that you give to your students make our work as music educators a true joy. We also want to thank the administration, teaching, kitchen, and technical staff of SRE and SRHS, whose flexibility and encouragement for what we do is truly a delight. A special thank you to our education board and tribal council for supporting the music program at Salt River Community Schools.
