The Singing Eagles performed their 2024 Spring Concert on April 18th, at 7:00 pm. They are an elementary choral group consisting of 55 students, directed and taught by Cindy Sparks.
Singing Eagles is a program Sparks created in the Spring of 1997, and has now blossomed into so much more. Along with their annual Spring Concert, they also perform at different events, including: the Veterans Day assembly, the Thanksgiving Banquet, the Tree Lighting at the Mill, and a St. Louis Cardinals game.
Along with all of the events the Singing Eagles perform at, they also have their annual Spring and Winter concerts. At their Spring concert this year, they sang several songs, including ‘Voice from a Dream’ and ‘Grand Old Flag.’ They sang both of those songs for a contest, in which they received an outstanding rating.
Their first song, ‘Voice from a Dream’, is a two-part and well-paced ballad. Their second song was the ‘Grand Old Flag’; it is a two-part song and is fast-paced. The song is a tribute to the American flag.
The songs they performed were very contrasting, earning the group good marks at the contest. While they earned good marks, it was still a challenge for the students to learn how to sing a bit softer, make sure to listen to the other parts, as well as making sure they were correct.
The Singing Eagles get to school early and work very hard to put on programs and perform in front of their friends and family. Sparks commented, “I am so proud of them! They come early every Wednesday morning at 7:15 and are always on their best behavior.”
While Sparks has taught at Fair Grove for many years, this is the last year the third and fourth grade students will have her as a teacher. After teaching here for more than 40 years at Fair Grove, Sparks has decided she will fully retire after the 2023-2024 school year.
Audra Harmon teaches music and directs choir for 5th-12th graders at Fair Grove. She expressed her admiration for Sparks, “We have spent countless hours in the classroom preparing students for contests and concerts…Each moment we spend together is precious, because she is a dear friend who I know I can always count on.”
The community will greatly miss Sparks teaching music to the young, learning minds of Fair Grove schools. She has made a life-long impact on past students and current students throughout high school, middle school, and elementary.
After the Spring Concert, the Singing Eagles have finished their 2023-2024 season, after many practices, concerts, and performances.
