America the Beautiful as sung by Mrs. Peck’s grade school choir

If you want to know what really makes America the Beautiful, listen to those words sung by a second and third grade choir.

Watch their proud little faces beam as, eyes trained on their music teacher, they find the notes that give those words lift.

“America! America! God shed his grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.”

Then, in the hands one of the most gifted choir teachers I’ve ever seen, see those words come to life.

Anna Peck invites her students into a magical world of acceptance, discipline, teamwork, musicality and joy. The ease with which she draws these attributes from her students flows directly from the attention she gives to every aspect of her program.

They sing, of course, and they dance, play instruments, memorize lyrics, applaud their classmates and listen carefully to a kookaburra call.

Students volunteer for the special roles in her concerts and, during one song, 11 boys made their way down from the risers to sing their part. I hope those boys always remember how cool it felt to stand in front of an audience and sing with their friends.

From the tiniest student to the tallest, each is offered an opportunity to shine. Some played in a percussion band, others stepped up to the microphone to introduce songs. One young man scooted up to the mic in a walker and spoke through a computer. When he finished his song introduction, he let out a triumphant whoop and grinned broadly as his classmates applauded him.

Anna plans the concert each year with her friend, Janet Berry art teacher Ashlyn O’Brien. They celebrated their theme, “Color the World with Music,” so well you hoped all that light and love could flow out from that little school in Wisconsin and into the vast beyond.

Maybe it will.

Anna invited me to attend the concert because her choirs were singing “Send My Love,” at each of their concerts. I loved seeing the words, and the message of my daughter Katherine and her friend Hillary Reynolds’ book come to life at the concert.

I really appreciated the opportunity to see those sweet and talented choirs perform.

I welled up several times as I watched them send their love out into a world that sorely needs it and I’m grateful for teachers like Anna Peck, who coax so much talent from their students and lead with the kindness that transcends it all.