Snapshot of Momentum:
A Brief Look At Miles Stamper

Miles Stamper, quick and purposeful, flew into Traveller’s Coffeehouse to meet me on a Tuesday afternoon. Our table was near the door, so immediate eye contact was almost involuntary. Quick recognition, things stashed on his side of the table, and off to the barista to order. The day was substantially busier than my last visit to the café. Upbeat music backgrounded a multitude of mini-groups: friends catching up, students slugging through homework, and a Bible study between two fashionable ladies at a table pushed against the left wall. 

      Miles shifts his weight as he contemplates his order, looking for a moment before leaping towards any single flavor. Brown shoes bring him up fully to the counter as he engages the barista in a quick exchange. Light-wash jeans, red cabled sweater, and a dark jacket have protected him against the cool February atmosphere so far, but now a drink would chase away the remainders of the chill. He finishes, returns to me, and sits as a hand runs through his dark longer hair. The drink is not long coming. It’s in a to-go cup rather than a mug, which is telling. Miles is a soul born to be on the move.

      Miles plays, fidgets with the drink’s cardboard koozie, with his keys, with the black cord bracelet on his left wrist. He talks a little like he’s looking ahead to the next events of his day. He speaks with a poetic and musical quality, like his throat was molded to move others. He moves with confident momentum, like his hands were crafted to conduct. In his little free time, he reads. Genres like fantasy, sci-fi, and historical fiction stand out. He also enjoys roleplaying in games like Dungeons and Dragons as well as Magic the Gathering. It’s the interactions with the world that draw him in. “The writing is so, like, intimately real,” he said, “in something that’s not real.” But, it’s more than just that. It’s the coming to know and “being in a futuristic society, and there’s this whole economy that’s been planned out and that runs, and you get to hear the inner workings. You’re like ‘Oh, that’s crazy!’ This would happen because cause and effect.” Actions and reactions, movement and consequences, a teacher and a student, a well-timed swish of the wrist and music.

      Miles is a senior Music Education major at Missouri State University. This fall, his last semester will be spent doing student teaching. This path isn’t a surprise for those who know him. Miles grew up surrounded by music. “My mom sand around the house, and I’d sing with her,” he explained. “And then, I did choir, and I loved it. And then, I did my first musical James and the Giant Peach, and that’s kind of what, like, locked me in.” Singing gave way to musical theater, drums, and piano. Over time, Miles came to truly understand the impact of music. Music is unlike anything else because “it’s a shared language, you know? You don’t have to speak the same language as someone to understand a chord the same as them or to hear something and know was it is. And so, it’s like a connection, but also it’s like one of the few pieces of art that we get to carry with us. We can take a photo of a piece of art to stick with us, but music is something that is internal.” For the first time, he pauses his movement as he speaks these words. His gaze trails out into the window behind me, but I doubt he’s tracking much of what is happening outside. Music has earned his full attention, his full dedication.

      On the wall behind Miles, there is large black lettering: “So Where’s LIFE Taking You?” I asked him just as much. He’s on track to teach, obviously. He’s interested in conducting. First & Calvary has whetted his taste for the experience, and he finds it exhilarating. “Everyone in the choir is putting their trust in you to lead them where they need to be,” he explained. Miles takes this seriously, and tends to memorize the music he gets to conduct. Still, all this anticipation, while appropriate for the whirlwind of momentum that is Miles Stamper, is not all there is. Just because Miles has a future does not mean that he does not have a present. He’s currently practicing for his senior recital on April thirteens at 7:30 in MSU’s Ellis Hall, and he’s rehearsing for The Waitress: The Musical. He also teaches a choir at the Judy Reynolds Center for Education. Miles’s goal-oriented nature does not cloud him from what is happening, but it rather pushes him to experience more. He resonates deeply with lyrics from the song “Spin the Wheel.” The inspiring verse: Wait 'til your brothers and your sisters, see where you been And if you loved the journey more than the end, go ahead Just turn that hourglass around and count to ten This ain't goodbye no more Nah, it just began

      His journey as the tenor scholar at First & Calvary involves participation in the Sunday choir, serving as the tenor section leader, and occasionally conducting. He revels in the podcasts and articles the scholars take in to prepare for our monthly lunches. Every day, every note is a step forward towards growth and the future. Even as his college career comes to a wrap by the end of 2025, Miles is not daunted. His journey is just beginning, and he has prepared well.

      The Scholars Program has been a wonderful launching pad and tool as Miles gets his feet planted firmly in his craft. From flexible opportunities, encouraging staff, and monthly lunches, the program is built to cultivate further creativity and skill within its participants, and Miles is no exception. If you feel your own journey could be benefited by the program, make sure to apply at: https://www.firstandcalvary.org/scholars-application

​

​

Written by Jocelyn Squires