Lacrimosa from Mozart's Requiem - LHS Instrumentalist Choir

This is a tribute to and a prime example of the brilliance -- let alone the unquestionable competence -- of Mr. Damon Carlson, Vocal Music Director at Larkin High School's Visual and Performing Arts Academy in Elgin, Illinois. The piece is from Mr. Carlson's first year, videotaped on March 3, 2005. As Vocal Music Director, Mr. Carlson and his colleagues thought it important for all Academy students to understand vocal music -- even instrumentalists who prior to that time would always emphatically declare, "I DON'T SING!" Mr. Carlson took this group of Academy instrumentalists, and having them only for one hour each week, was able to produce the result that you see and hear in this video of "Lacrimosa" from Mozart's Requiem. Keep in mind that this is NOT the Larkin High School Choir, but instead, students from band and orchestra. In addition to that, a large percentage of them are Freshman.

See also the Facebook site:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11447868515
for a demonstration of the outpouring of support for Mr. Carlson. For more details, and information on how to express your support for Mr. Carlson and his possible return, we urge you to please visit
http://www.emjpc.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lacrimosa
• Mozart
• Requiem
• Larkin
• High
• School
• VPAA
• Academy
• Instrumentalist
• Choir
• Accompanied
• by
• Mr.
• Damon
• Carlson

[MRJSTUDIOS]

Posted on behalf of Ms. Lois Emrich, a former elementary general music and band instructor with District #300 who does not have an account here:

My family has a history with Elgin's music. I and my brothers, husband, sisters-in-law and children all were part of the system at one time or another until 1979.

[MRJSTUDIOS]

...That is the year my husband and I moved our family into District #300 because the children I was teaching had music in their elementary schools twice a week and my own children had to wait until middle or high school for any vocal experience. The lack of music in the elemetary schools was later felt when the students in middle school and high school lacked any background in vocal music...

[MRJSTUDIOS]

...Over the years music has returned to Elgin's schools. What better example of what a dedicated teacher can do than Mr. Carlson at Larkin High School. I just listened to [this video]. As an instrumental major myself I can tell you it is a triumph just to get "players" to sing. Never mind that it makes them better players. They just don't want to do it....

[MRJSTUDIOS]

...Any person who can take those students one day a week and teach them to sing as a group with that kind of precision and sound needs to stay in the Elgin system. I was frankly prepared to listen to a typical high school ensemble. They were NOT typical. They were incredible. Don't let someone like Mr. Carlson get away. All students need teachers like him. Music needs to continue in our society and if we don't keep the best teachers it won't. That would be a shame and a crime.

[natamerlove]

what memories...

lizzie

[dennisharris]

Mr. Carlson knew more about vocal performances than anyone I ever met. EVER. EVER.

[5150Frankenstrat]

wow