Editorial
Front Page - Friday, December 11, 2009
Soddy Daisy Choir to perform at Carnegie Hall in NYC
Stephanie Coward
The Soddy Daisy High School Chamber Choir will be traveling to New York City in April to perform at Carnegie Hall.
“I’m really excited to go,” said senior Tim Bodenbender. “I’m working my hands to the bone trying to get there.”
Choir Director, Cathy May, said that she received the invitation to perform at Carnegie sometime last March or April. There are two ways that a student group gets the chance to perform at the famous hall. “You can be invited by reputation or you can do an audition process and we were invited by reputation,” May said. The SDHS Choir has performed many major works; major works are those with more than one song within it. “As we would got to competitions, the people heard about what we were working on and that’s how we go invited.” The choir also boasts receiving all ones at the JB Lyle Choral Festival last year. According to May, a one is the superior score for a choral performance.
The students take the honor seriously. Student Tyler Giuliani practices an extra 14 hours a week on average. Colby Wells sings whenever the mood hits him. The 41 students that will be heading to NYC in the spring have built familial bonds according to Wells. “Seeing that you have other people around really trying too … I like it a lot. It makes it feel like family.”
As the choir’s librarian, junior Elizabeth Blevins is responsible for the group’s music. A monumental task ahead of her this spring, Blevins takes it in stride. “It’s going to be so much fun because it’s a once in a lifetime experience,” Blevins said.
“Indescribable,” is how junior Robin Harvey feels about the trip; Harvey also serves as the choir treasurer.
Many of the students have been singing in choirs since elementary or middle school: Tyler Jordan has been in choir for six years; Samantha Badgett for 15 years; Kinney Billingsley for nine years and Haleigh Poteet for seven years. Sophomore Emily Schwartz has been part of the choir for two years but previously took private choir lessons while living in California.
The excitement the students feel about the upcoming trip is palpable. “I’m oh so excited,” said Hailey Holland.
“I’m speechless. I can’t really describe how I feel, it’s amazing,” said senior Mara Hodson.
May said that the performance in NYC will be a collaborative effort; a collaborative effort is when two schools learn the same pieces and perform them together.
During the trip, the group will be visiting the VH1 Studios. “We have a back stage tour to VH1,” May said. The studio tour isn’t one offered to all the visiting schools but May’s friend’s sister is a manager at VH1 and was able to add to the kids’ “once in lifetime experience.” A partial group of the choir will also be visiting Julliard.
Several of the students plan to pursue a higher degree in music. Choir Vice President Michael Payne plans to major in music education and become a high school choir director and hopefully a college choir director later on.
Billingsley wants to sing opera professionally someday and has considered applying to Shenandoah Conservatory.
Several of the students view the trip as a once in a lifetime opportunity, but for others the trip is fulfilling a lifelong dream. “It’s been my personal dream to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York,” Payne said.
“I hope I can go,” said Zach Olson, who joined the choir this year.
The choir will perform in the concert hall on the fourth day there and after the performances have wrapped up all the performers will enjoy a post-concert cruise complete with music and a buffet dinner.
According to May, the group needs to raise a total of $70,000 for the four-night April trip. They have several fundraisers planned through December. December 13 there will be a $5 spaghetti dinner at First Baptist of Soddy Daisy at 5 p.m. The dinner will be followed by a choral concert at 6 p.m. There will be an on-going silent auction that day beginning at 11 a.m. as well.
The choir will be caroling at Doughheads on Harrison Lane in Soddy Daisy, December 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 in the evening. The choir will receive 25 percent of the profits made.
Those interested can make a donation to the SDHS Choir by following the information on the Web site, http://sdhschoir.webs.com/sponsorsanddonations.htm, or by visiting a Regions Bank and making a deposit into the SDHS Choir account.
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