The Twentynine Palms High School Select Choir and their boosters are raising funds to make possible a trip to New York City and participation in a concert in Carnegie Hall. Dan Stork tells how the opportunity arose, and what the singers will do in the Big Apple…
Some months back, Twentynine Palms High School Music Director Michael Mayes was informed that his select choir was invited to participate in a multi-day workshop in New York City by American Music Performance (AMP) Nationals for top choirs in April of 2014, he was stunned. The invitation is a great honor and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the 22 students of his select choir. AMP is an elite, invite-only division of Choirs of America. Mayes says that first he was inclined to tell the select choir students how proud he was of their accomplishments, thank the AMP and move on, because he knew it would be a huge undertaking to raise the funds needed to finance the trip. But, after talking to fellow teachers, administrators, school board and community members, he decided to accept the invitation. As part of the fundraising effort to make the trip a reality, Z107.7 will sponsor a radiothon from noon to 5 p.m. on January 11. The conference itself will be filled with workshops and master classes with world-renowned musicians featuring adjudicated performances, one-hour clinics world-class faculty, a vocal master class, and their highly acclaimed workshop, “Premier!” On the final day, the students will sing in a concert in Carnegie Hall with conductor Grant Gerson, director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL SELECT CHOIR INVITED TO CARNEGIE HALL
