During the weekend of May 4, the Natchez High School Choir under the direction of Mrs. Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis participated in the “Music in the Parks” Festival of Music in Chicago, Ill. There were several hundred choirs from all across the country that participated in the competition. Natchez High choirs and ensembles received superior ratings: quartet won first place superior, TTBB chorus (men’s glee club) won second place superior, concert chorus won first place superior. The Natchez High School madrigals also won “best in class” at the festival, with the highest rating of all choirs entered.

The participation in the festival was made possible by fundraising activities by students and the booster club, “Friends of the Natchez Singers,” who participated in a fundraising project by DIRECTV. The Natchez High School Choir became the largest DIRECTV for Schools seller in America, selling approximately 323 renewals or new sales and raising approximately $32,100 for their trip.

The students’ trip began on May 4, with riding a train to Chicago, participating in the Festival of Music, performing at the Liberty Baptist Church in Chicago by invitation, attending a cook-out, in their honor, at the home of former Natchezians, Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Washington, experiencing the many sight-seeking opportunities of Chicago, and returning to Jackson, via train, on May 8.

From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Natchez City Auditorium the community will honor and congratulate the Natchez High School Choir and Mrs. Arceneaux-Mathis for their outstanding achievements in the Festival of Music and for representing Natchez, Mississippi so powerfully in a national competition. They truly deserve to be honored by our community. Everyone is invited to attend the reception.

Darryl V. Grennell is president of the Adams County Board of Supervisors.