School chorus stays busy building sound reputation Published May 2, 2008 By Holly Birchfield 78th ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, Ga. -- Music can be a good source of fun for many kids. For the Robins Elementary School's chorus, it's a way to express their pride in the military service to which their parents are committed. Sheila Clopton, a music specialist and choral director at Robins Elementary School for 25 years, said the chorus, which is made up of 27 boys and girls ages 8 to 12, has performed at the POW Christmas luncheon at the Horizons Club, sang at the Robins Christmas Tree Lighting, sang the national anthem at Turner Field in Atlanta and made appearances at a host of other venues since late 2007. Mrs. Clopton said the young vocalists have a heart for music as well as for their Middle Georgia community. "A lot of the songs that we sing are not just about entertainment and learning how to sing correctly," she said. "They have to do with teaching values and pride in our country." Mrs. Clopton said the children made an impact on the crowd at Turner Field. "The chorus just participated in singing the national anthem for the Atlanta Braves game," she said. "This was especially important to them because all of these students are military dependents and they know firsthand the sacrifices their parents make serving in our military and supporting our country and our freedom." The Robins Honor Guard joined the chorus on the field. "I think it was really neat that the audience in the stadium cheered the kids on because they knew their parents are in the military," Mrs. Clopton said. "That just especially made their hearts swell with pride and encouraged the kids."