LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / May 3, 2000

LULING – The choral presentation Friday of John Rutter’s “Magnificat” at St.

Anthony of Padua Catholic Church put a stamp of approval on the teaching career of Hahnville High School choral director Dell Frickey on the eve of her retirement.

Frickey will retire at the end of the current school term, capping a career which dates back to the late 1950s. She’s influenced generations of youngpeople with her love of music.

Prior to the performance of “Magnificat,” many representatives of those generations of students attended to offer their own thanks and tribute by their presence.

Frickey, a native of Amite, earned her bachelor and master’s degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University. From there she studied at the ChicagoInstitute of Music, with one of her instructors being Rutter himself.

She was the first choral director in St. Charles Parish public schools in 1957-1959 before she went on hiatus and had three daughters and a son. Frickeyreturned to teaching in 1967 at Riverdale High School in Jefferson Parish and spent nine years there. She returned to Hahnville High School in 1976.”Magnificat” is a series of short Latin choral hymns which express adoration of the Virgin Mary and fear of the Lord. It opens with “My soul doth magnifythe Lord,” and concludes with “As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.”The production was offered, free of charge, by the Hahnville High A Capella Choir and beginning choir, together with professional musicians from the New Orleans area providing the orchestral accompaniment.

Frickey served as conductor, the love of the music and for her students radiant in her eyes, as all performed the university-level music flawlessly.

Her gestures coaxed perfection, and her choir students responded by singing through their hearts.

The program included the translation of the verses to enable the audience to better appreciate the messages.

Tears shone in her eyes afterwards as she acknowledged the applause, roses and other parting gifts from her students. She also expressed her gratitudeto her past and present students, the school and school system administration, fellow teachers and friends in the community, including the Rev. Patrick Gannon.Funding for the concert was provided by the St. Charles Performing ArtsSociety, through the United Way, and the concert was dedicated to retired United Way director Alcide Laurent.

Additional funding came through the Recording Industries Music Performance Trust Fund and the HHS Vocal Music Department.

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