Lucius Cornelsen is this year’s recipient of the Robert E. Moore Tradition of Excellence Scholarship.

A baritone in the Po-Hi Chorale, Cornelsen was surprised by the announcement on Monday, May 15, during the Chorale’s spring concert at the Ponca City Schools Concert Hall. After graduation from the Ponca City High School Class of 2023, he will use the one-time $1500 award as he continues his education at Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) in the fall.

He is the fourth, and first male, recipient of the award following Audrey Caughlin in 2020, Mallory Kyler in 2021, and Alyssa Walker in 2022.

Cornelsen became involved in the Chorale during his freshman year, where he received the solo and ensemble 1st Division rating. As a senior, he was selected as a member of the exclusive All-OkMEA Mixed Choir by learning advanced level choral music and demonstrating mastery through a rigorous audition process. He has been listed as an honor roll student his entire high school career, showing the qualities necessary to be an excellent student.

The Robert E. Moore Tradition of Excellence Scholarship was established in 2020 to honor Robert Moore, Director of Choral Music for Ponca City Schools from 1966 to 1996. Moore formed the Chorale during his first year of teaching at Ponca City High School and, for the next three decades, led the Chorale to consistently win the highest honors at regional competitions, bringing pride to the Ponca City community and its students. This scholarship is made possible through donations, fundraisers, and concerts performed by the Po-Hi Chorale Alumni.

Later this summer, close to 150 members of the Po-Hi Chorale Alumni from around the country will gather to rehearse for a day, and then perform a concert at 7 pm on Saturday, July 15 at the Ponca City Schools Concert Hall.

The program of spirituals has been assembled by Mr. Moore. He has selected the alumni who will conduct, accompany, and solo, while he himself will take up the baton on a few of the selections. Alumni spanning 56 years of Po-Hi classes are coming in from 22 different states to perform on what will be Moore’s 85th birthday.

Admission is free, but donations will be accepted at the door to continue funding the Robert E. Moore Tradition of Excellence Scholarship.

If you are a present or former Po-Hi Chorale member and interested in singing in the alumni concert, contact Kim Hodges at kim.w.hodges@hotmail.com.