Musical artist tells students to sing and listen to God’s voice

Choir members at Holy Family School in New Albany join Lori True in a performance of “A Place at the Table” on Feb. 2 at the parish church. A recording artist, True composed and recorded the musical piece that was chosen as the theme for the 2010-11 academic year at Holy Family School. True was invited to the school during Catholic Schools Week. (Submitted photo)

By Amy Clere (Special to The Criterion)

NEW ALBANY—The recent ice storm in Indiana couldn’t stop recording artist Lori True from delivering a powerful musical message to students at Holy Family School in New Albany.

“You have a lot of voices telling you what to do,” said True, the campus minister for liturgy and music at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn. “You have a decision to make as to which voice you listen to. Listen to God.”

True shared that message with students on Feb. 2 when she traveled to Holy Family School during Catholic Schools Week to perform “A Place at the Table.” Her musical composition was chosen as the theme for the 2010-11 academic year at Holy Family School.

Each year, the Holy Family faculty develops a theme for the school year, weaving many of the school’s activities, liturgies and events into the theme.

True’s message included reminders to the students that God is always with them, and to trust in him even during times of struggle.

“God’s got a plan, and it’s bigger than this,” she said.

The plan for the Feb. 2 performance had to be adjusted when the ice storm left True’s piano accompanist stuck in Indianapolis. True called a friend in Atlanta, Paul Tate, who flew into Louisville to help with her performance for the students. Together, they used music to share life lessons with the school children.

“There was a lot about social justice” in True’s songs, said Jerry Ernstberger, the principal of Holy Family School. “We focus on ourselves as children. As we grow older, we see a lot of people who have needs, and we learn to reach out. We parents and teachers work daily to teach children to think of others.”

The message of this year’s theme and song gives children a familiar scene about reaching out to others, Ernstberger said.

“If we are always looking for people to have a place at our table, at God’s table, then we are answering God’s call,” he said.

True was thrilled by the school’s selection of her song for its yearlong theme. She also viewed it as a wonderful way to celebrate within the Catholic Church.

“The Church needs to stay singing and not just to listen because so much around the children tells them to just listen,” she said. “Let them sing!”

(Amy Clere is the world languages teacher at Holy Family School in New Albany.) †