By Apryl Mock
Managing Editor
The SE Chorale will be hosting “Lost Child: A Multidisciplinary Reflection on Children and Society” during November in order to raise awareness about crimes against children, according to Dr. Stacy Weger, chair of the department of music and director of choral activities.
Weger said the Chorale holds an event each semester and wanted to use the exposure to promote a good cause.
The inspiration for this event was the terrible tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary school on Dec. 14, 2012, as well has the high rates of children living in poverty and the abuse rates in the U.S. and around the world, according to Weger.
The Chorale recital will be held Nov. 19 in the Fine Arts Recital Hall.
In addition to the Chorale performance, there will be a series of lectures and other performances leading up to the event beginning on Nov. 5.
According to Weger, the Chorale will perform “a wide variety of music” including, the Motet Vox in Rama composed by Wert and a commissioned work the Chorale had written for this concert by David Childs, “Celestial Dances of Children.”
Other works include an Avant-garde piece, “Lament for a Lost Child” and a piece adapted from Holocaust poetry, “A Child’s Journey.”
The Chorale will also perform “Georgia Lee” by Tom Waites and “Mother You” by Sinead O’Conner, said Weger.
The SE dance program will perform “Dance for the Lost Child” on Nov. 5 at 8:30 p.m. in Montgomery Auditorium. Dr. Jani Barker will give the presentation, “Risky Stories: Picture book art about the endangered child for the child in Safety” at 3 p.m. in the Fine Arts Recital Hall on Nov. 11. Barker will present images of children at risk in literary and visual art (primarily picture books) for children.
Dr. Meg Cotter-Lynch will give the lecture, “Earthly Mothers, Heavenly Father and Children Left Behind” at 3 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the Fine Arts Recital Hall.
This lecture will discuss four stories about women from early Christian works who were compelled to reject or redefine traditional duties of motherhood in order to fulfill their Christian duties. Cotter-Lynch will discuss what happened to their children as a result.
The theatre department will host a poet’s coffee house called, “A Child’s Journey” at 9 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the playhouse.
For more information about the poet’s coffee house event, contact Kathleen Hardgrove, assistant professor, at extension 2453 or email her at [email protected].
In the Student Union Auditorium on Nov. 14 at 9:30 a.m., “Malala’s Journey” will be presented by Dr. Shannon McCraw, associate professor, and SE students, Rylee Hendricks, Sierra Kinnamon, Hanna McMurtrey and Katrina Rose.
According to Weger, the documentary “Class Dismissed: Malala’s Journey” will be presented. This film tells the story of Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the face by the Taliban in 2012.
According to Weger, “The audience will learn the hardships children and women face in Pakistan today.
In presenting a reading of Malala’s speech to the United Nations, the audience will feel Malala’s resolve on educational issues, and her commitment to children and women worldwide.”
Jackie Melancon will give the lecture presentation, “The Art of Teaching the Lost Child” in the Fine Arts Recital Hall at 4 p.m. on Nov. 14.
“Lost Child” will then wrap up with “The Chickasaw Nation’s Cultural Renaissance and Family Systems Oriented Service” presentation, given by, Joshua and Waymon R. Hinson, of the Chickisaw nation on Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. in the Russell Building, room 300.
The Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity will also be hosting a food drive during the first two weeks of November.
Weger said, “This event was designed to bring awareness to this issue, and hopefully others will respond to these issues instead of turning the other way.”
For more information about “Lost Child: A Multidisciplinary Reflection on Children and Society,” contact Dr. Weger at [email protected].