North Andover High School Singers Going to San Francisco
The North Andover High School honors chorus, the Scarlet and Black Singers, are traveling to California April 5-9 to participate in the San Francisco Festival of Gold. Only the nation’s most-accomplished musical choirs are invited to perform at this exclusive event. NAHS’s chorus was invited after singing in Philadelphia last spring where they earned gold medals for their performances.
“We have an hour long clinic with a famous clinician, will be part of an adjudication with other gold medal groups at St. Ignatius Church, and also get to perform at the renowned Davies Symphony Hall where we are conducted by famous conductors and get to sing with the other gold medal students from across the country,” reports Mrs. Sara Durkin, NAHS chorus director.
There are 32 students going on this trip. Students have been fundraising to offset the cost of the trip – cookie dough sales, flamingo flocking, Christmas caroling, Coffee House concerts, singing telegrams.
On March 8, a benefit concert is being held at North Andover High School, 7-10pm. This concert will have the Scarlet and Black Singers warming up the audience before the featured group, the Jazz Disciples, performs at 8:00. Does Dixieland make your toes tap? Do you melt when you hear a soft ballad backed by a smooth rhythm section? How about pre-1925 traditional dance hall jazz tunes? Does Gospel music warm your soul? Love a great sultry vocal backed by a horn section? Enjoy creative arrangements of popular music hits from the 1960’s? Do you like to dance? The Jazz Disciples have you covered. Just one word of warning – you are going to want to dance.
The rhythm section is anchored by Christopher Desjardins [piano], and filled out by two guitarists – Glen Macon and Martin McGrath, bassist Steve Longo, and percussionist Cody Morgan – the newest member. The horn section features trumpeter-arranger John Shaw, tenor saxophonist Steve McRoy, and trombonist David Hastings. The featured vocalist, combining the styles of Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, is April Foley, a voice teacher with a distinguished resume of stage performances.
Tickets to this open-to-the-public event can be purchased on line at northandovermusic.org. $15 ($10 students)
The Scarlet and Black Singers appreciatively accept donations for this trip – mail to NAHS, Chorus Trip, 430 Osgood St, N.Andover, MA 01845 attn: Sara Durkin
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