To borrow from the familiar question, 26 Mississippi School ofthe Arts choral students practiced, practiced, practiced, made itto Carnegie Hall and now have returned to Brookhaven.

The students’ adventure to New York to represent the school andthe state in a mass choir event last week was made possible bystate and local contributions. School officials said donations fromlocal individuals, businesses and churches contributed a”substantial” amount toward covering the trip’s $56,000 pricetag.

Without that support, it’s doubtful that some of the studentswould have had to opportunity to take a bite out of the Big Apple.Also without that backing, they would not have had the chance torepresent Mississippi and show others what this state is producingin terms of high school education and talent.

It is important to note that of the more than 200 choir membersat the Carnegie Hall performance, the MSA representatives were theonly high school students invited to participate. MississippiCollege Department of Music Director Dr. James “Jamie” Meadorschose the MSA choir because he had been impressed by them during ashort workshop last year.

MSA choral students, as well as those pursuing art and theaterdisciplines, have garnered many state, regional and nationalaccolades in the school’s short existence.

The Carnegie Hall invitation is another honor MSA can add tothat list.

Such opportunities show the wisdom of the Legislature increating the school, and the Carnegie trip is a prime example ofhow important the arts school is to Mississippi.

Think of it, 26 teenagers received an opportunity of a lifetime.But without MSA, that opportunity would never have been availableto them.

From day one, the purpose of the Mississippi School of the Artswas to allow gifted students an extra chance to expand and grow intheir chosen fields. Such talented individuals living and learningtogether, as happens in an educational environment such as MSA, issomething which could never be accomplished in individual schooldistricts.

Twenty-six dreams were realized last week and thoseopportunities came from a vision seven years ago to create a schoolwhich allows special students the chance to nurture and grow theirGod-given talents.

Mississippi took a leap of faith in 1999 to create the school,and look what has been accomplished in the three short years theMSA has been in operation.