Pearl River County Community Band (PRCCB) presents “High School on Parade,” their 4th Annual Spring Concert, honoring high school and Jr. high PRCCB members. The event will be held Sunday, May 6, at 3 p.m. at the Picayune High School Auditorium and will be directed by Johnny Baker with Josh Tidwell, Poplarville High School band director, serving as guest director.

Director Baker says, ““I have worked very closely with Josh. I had asked him to pick a song to direct, so he made his choice. He picked a beautiful song titled, ‘On A Hymnsong Of Phillip Bliss,’ By David R. Holsinger, (ASCAP).

“The man who wrote the poem that the music was put to was from Chicago and was at one time very affluent. Unfortunately he and his family were financially ruined by the Chicago fire. They went on a boat trip afterward, and all of his four daughters drowned in its shipwreck leaving him and his wife as survivors. This poem was written upon the return to the sight as he reflected on the past. The music is melancholy but truly a beautiful piece which is full of emotion.

“I’ve got eight either current or retired band directors in the band and in the next concert someone else will guest direct.”

Baker says, “There are about 15 or 16 high school students and three college students who attend Southern. If there is a solo in a song being performed this night, a high school student will perform it. “I love this concert because the band will also be presenting two $500 scholarships. This is the second year to give scholarships which are paid to the college of the recipients choice. Last year we were able to provide three scholarships; but with the current economy our donations have been down and we can only provide two.”

Eileen Welsh Baker, PRCCB secretary, says, “It is such a privilege to be able to honor and publically recognize these high school students. They are extremely talented and we have so many who perform with the band now. We have several from Hancock county and really they come from all over.” For more information on the community band, visit the Internet site: www.prccb.org.