Why Are Ursuline Students and Parents So Excited?

More than 50 Facebook likes and a dozen comments greeted the latest announcement from Ursuline Academy: The all-girls' preparatory school in Kirkwood will be launching a new instrumental music program next year, anchored by a new faculty hire with experience throughout the St. Louis area.

Here's the announcement, posted Friday on the school's Facebook page:

"UA has hired Mr. James Harkey as our new music teacher. Mr. Harkey has a bachelors degree in music education, a masters degree in conducting, and has taught both vocal and instrumental music at Althoff Catholic High School and, for the past six and a half years, at St. Elizabeth Academy where he also served as music department chair."

On his own website, Harkey said his job at St. Elizabeth Academy ended at the close of the 2012-2013 school year because of declining enrollment.

"Revising my portfolio has given me the opportunity to take a critical look at my teaching career thus far; to reconsider what I have taught and learned, and to describe my background and approach to teaching," he wrote. "I sincerely hope that my love of and dedication to music education are reflected by this portfolio."

Ursuline's announcement said Harkey will teach vocal music courses and will introduce an instrumental music program to Ursuline next year.

"The instrumental program will include a beginners band for students who want to learn an instrument and an instrumental ensemble for those who already play," the school said.

The news was greeted with some excited Facebook comments as well, such as this one from Jeanne Ruzicka Hoehn: "My daughter had Mr. Harkey when she went to St. Elizabeth. He is a wonderful and talented teacher. UA is lucky to have him."