The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will host a pay-as-you-wish concert on Nov. 1, bringing local music educators and professional musicians together on the same stage. Eight educators from South County schools will be contributing to the performance, which is called the Extra Credit Choral.
The Lindbergh, Bayless and Hancock Place school districts will each be represented by one choir or music teacher: Laura Swearingen from Lindbergh High School, Tamara Simmons from Bayless High School and Sarah Krus from Hancock Place Elementary School.
“For over twenty years, Laura Swearingen has shared her musical talents with the school community as the Director of Choirs at Lindbergh,” LHS Principal Eric Cochran said. “Every year, it’s impressive to see the growth in skill and technique exhibited by her students. I’m even more impressed by the relationships she forges with her students. Each year, she is seen by countless students as an educator who creates a safe space for them to try things, grow from their mistakes and feel supported along the way. Her students are recognized across the state annually in large numbers due to what they learn in her program. I’m so excited to see her recognized in the broader St. Louis region.”
Bayless Superintendent Amy Ruzicka said, “We could not be prouder of Tamara. She is an extraordinary educator whose talent, passion and dedication have helped build a thriving vocal music program at Bayless. She brings out the very best in her students, and it is wonderful to see her own musical talents celebrated on such a prestigious stage.”
About her own participation in the concert, Krus said, “Words fall flat when I try to explain my gratitude to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for their Extra Credit program and the opportunity it gives teachers to continue growing as musicians. It provides a space for us to challenge ourselves as performers, reconnect with the joy of performing music and step outside our comfort zones. In doing so, we become more well-rounded musicians and, ultimately, better teachers for our students.”
Five choir and music teachers from the Mehlville School District will take the stage, representing five different schools within the district: Chelsea Ayres from Oakville High School, Erin Clevenger from Bierbaum Elementary School, Cassidy McNeal from Rogers Elementary School, Thom Skinner from Trautwein Elementary School and Madlyn Wetzel from Point Elementary School.
“I’m incredibly proud of our teachers who were selected to take part in this performance,” Mehlville Director of Fine Arts and Federal Grants Laurie Tretter-Larkin said. “It’s such a gift that our students get to learn from musicians of this caliber every single day, and seeing their talent shine on stage is a wonderful reminder of the passion they bring to our school.”
The Extra Credit Choral will consist of more than 100 educators from school districts across the St. Louis area, as well as some from other places around Missouri and as far as California. More than 40 school districts will be represented by the program.
