Volume 2, No. 17. September 13, 2002
AZA Report
In
tune
The key piece, literally, of the 9/11 commemoration at AZA’s Opening Session
Wednesday was Fort Worth Zoo Staff members Stacey Pierce and Ron Surratt.
Delegates entered the Fort Worth Convention Center’s ballroom to the piano
playing of Pierce, the zoo’s development director who had been a public
school choir director for seven years prior to joining the zoo. Her choice of
songs projected an inspirational solemnity, but subtly: “Amazing Grace,”
“America the Beautiful,” “Do You Hear the People Sing” from
Les Miserables and "Dixie" done slowly.
"I was just trying to find things that were inspirational, but not flippant," Pierce said, avoiding Sousa tunes and "Grand Old Flag." I wanted things that were dignified but didn't interfere with people's reflecting and remembering."
Surratt, the zoo's mammal curator, joined Pierce on stage during the ceremony to sing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "God Bless America." Like Pierce, Surratt was asked by Zoo Director Michael Fouraker to perform at the session, but he was making his public singing debut. "I'm just a goat roper," he said. "I sing a lot in the car, but that's about it."
In an unusual but fitting decision, Surratt sang the seldom-heard introductory refrain of Irving Berlin's famous song:
While
the storm clouds gather
Far
across the sea
Let us swear allegiance
To
a land that's free.
Let's
all be grateful
For
a land so fair
As we raise our voice
In a solemn prayer,
God
bless America . . .
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