After months of hard work, our Show Choir singers had the amazing opportunity to perform at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ! We joined over 5,000 other students from around New Jersey who came together to perform an hour and a half concert to a packed house. 

 

The program included pop favorites like “Try Everything,” “Birdhouse in your Soul,” and “Little Blue,” “Arirang” a Korean folk song, original works “Oceania” and “Get Loud” and medleys of songs from the musical Hairspray, songs that all mention dancing, and songs by Bob Marley. All the songs were fun and upbeat, and expressed themes of perseverance, loyalty, friendship and standing up for yourself.

 

We left school at 1:00 and made good time to the Prudential Center. We were one of the first schools to arrive, and the students excitedly watched as the arena filled up with other groups. (Some of the students were *not* excited about how high up our seats were!) We rehearsed the program along with the other schools, the live band, solo singers and our amazing conductor, Francisco Nuñez. We had a dinner break at 5:00, doors opened to the general public at 6:00, and we started our program at 7:00! When the lights dimmed in the arena and came up brightly on just the massive choir, it was a thrilling moment the students will not soon forget!

 

While it might have been a long day filled with a lot of walking and a lot of singing, the students were already asking if we could do this again next year! We will certainly get it on the calendar and welcome any students who may want to join us for the next amazing concert! There’s always room for more in the choir!

 

Thanks so much to our chaperones, who didn’t just keep an eye on our singers, but also sang and danced along with us all night! Thanks also to the American Young Voices staff and Prudential Center security who helped dismiss all 5,000 of us in an incredibly orderly and calm fashion after the show. It may have taken a little extra time, but their dedication to our children’s safety is appreciated!