Members and guests of Matinee Musicale met in the home of Mrs. Edward Moak for the annual March Scholarship program.

Mrs. Hunter Kergosien, president, welcomed everyone and introduced the guests of honor, the annual scholarship winner and his teacher.

The recipient for the 2012-2013 school year is Demond Walker, a Biloxi High senior, a member of Ole Brook Singers and a student of Jens Oliva.

Walker’s major interests are choral music and composition. According to Oliva, one of Walker’s compositions will be featured at the spring concert, which is quite an honor.

Oliva, a native of Miami, Fla., received a Bachelor of Music degree from Belhaven College and a Master of Music Education degree from Jackson State University.

He has taught at Wingfield High School, Murrah High School, Mississippi School of the Arts and Brookhaven High School. He was the 2004 Mississippi High School Activities Association Choir Director of the Year and his choirs have received more than 30 state level superiors.

Oliva is a former choir director at Faith Presbyterian Church and currently serves as choir director at Brookhaven High School.

Nancy Fisher, a well-known area musician who currently serves as pianist at First Baptist Church, Brookhaven, accompanied Walker.

The program was composed of selections from “Heroes and Vagabonds,” consisting of original compositions and arrangements by Mark Patterson.

Selections included Scottish-English ballads such as “Give Me Wings,” “Glouster Moors,” “Sky Boat Song” and a sea shanty “I’m Bound Away.” “Come, Sail Away” and “The Vagabond” were composed by Patterson and inspired by the writings of Robert Louis Stevenson.

Walker sang with a quiet confidence, infusing the well-known melodies with fresh, calm insight and vitality.

As the audience affirmed its appreciation for the program, Walker graciously thanked the members for the scholarship award. He will be using it to attend music camp this summer.

Matinee Musicale members are looking toward a bright future for Walker best summed up by the lyrics to his first selection: “Give me wings, swift wings to fly, where dreams begin, swift wings to take me home again.”

Prior to the program guests enjoyed sweets and savories from a table laden with delicate white bridal wreath in celebration of spring.

Assisting hostesses were Mrs. Daniel Bowling, Mrs. Bill Lofton and Mrs. George Tarbutton. Serving coffee was Mrs. Jeff Doremus. Photo