District News

High School choir going to Carnegie Hall

 

November, 2010

 

Every chance they get, 25 Canajoharie High School choir students practice. They give-up study halls, stay after school and even plan to come to school on a Sunday.

Why?

High school choir Because on Dec. 2, the group will join students from around New York and New Jersey as part of a 250-student chorus performing at Carnegie Hall in “The American Christmas Carol,” presented by composer/arranger Tim Janis. The entire Canajoharie Chamber Choir and 10 students from the high school choir are making the trip.

The choir will have a full orchestra behind them during a show featuring arrangements by both Janis and Andrew J. Wight. County music artist Sarah Darling also plans to perform.

Dec. 2, will be a long day. The singers leave Canajoharie at 5 a.m., rehearse during the day, and perform that night. Vocal music teacher Megan Yonteff knows it’s a chance of a lifetime and she’s preparing like it.

“They have been working really hard because they’ve had to learn nine songs since September,” she said. “We have been rehearsing all the time. They have been giving up study halls and I gave them practice CDs.”

Tim Janis said he chose Canajoharie because of their “outstanding professional performance in my program ‘Celebrate America.’”

Last year, Mrs. Yonteff took the group to WMHT studios in Troy to be a part of Janis’ project. Canajoharie joined dozens of other Capital District schools performing folk, traditional, and patriotic tunes celebrating our nation. Mrs. Yonteff called Janis to see if he wanted them to perform in another show. Instead, he invited the choir to the Big Apple.

“They have a beautiful sound,” he said.

Mrs. Yonteff expects an experience the students won’t forget. Even though the date is fast approaching, she says for it hasn’t sunk in for some students.

“The kids are really excited,” she said. “Some of them have been there (Carnegie Hall) on a field trip, but I don’t know if it hit them they’re going to be singing at one of the most famous concert venues in the world.”