Vocal group singing at ‘Orchestra Hall’
A plane full of O’Neill students will travel to Chicago this weekend to take part in the Heritage ‘Festival of Gold’ Choral Invitational.
The students, all girls, will travel with O’Neill’s vocal music teacher Christopher Sheehan Reynolds. The girls make up the Women’s Choir.
While in ‘the windy city’; the girls will have the honor of gracing the stage of Chicago’s prestigious Orchestra Hall (a venue dating back to 1904, which seats 2522 people). The’ll be joined by choirs from across the nation and from Canada to both compete individually and join in a massed festival choir.
Going on the trip are: Laurel Bennett, Thai Dodge, Grace Doherty, Jaqueline Evangelista, Abbey Fuhriman, Meabh Gage, Marie Gregory, Julia Hajjar, Abigail Hatch, Evelyn Higbee, Kaitlyn Hilley, Megan Horan, Haley Jackson, Claire Kobylski, Gwen Learey, Valerie Mancuso, Delia McGowan, Solana McKee, Destinee Mercado, Lesley Morocho, Anna Read, Michaela Reinertsen, Flavia Rufasto, Lily Scott, Corinne Sparrow, Megan VanSweringen, Madison Weinburg and Katie Yankovich.
“Their acceptance into this event was based on a resume of recent recordings and accomplishments, which lately include their invitation at last year’s NYSSMA All-State convention in Rochester and the previous spring’s performance at the NAfME All-Eastern convention held in Atlantic City,” Reynolds said. “With O’Neill Choirs’ past history of three invitations to perform at NYSSMA All-State Conventions, NAfME All-Eastern, three performances at Carnegie Hall, Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center and now Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, we have much to be proud of.”
He added that the high school’s women’s choir alone “has an impressive litany of 6 ‘gold’ and 13 ‘gold with distinction’ ratings, always singing at the highest level at NYSMMA Major Organizations Festivals, since its inception in 1998.
Reynolds said he wants to convey his “immense pride in his impeccable singers” to the community, and also deep gratitude to O’Neill Principal Debbie Brand, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Sheboy and the Board of Education for “making these life-changing experiences possible for our students”.
While on the April 6 to 9 trip, the girls will also get ample time to explore Chicago’s culture, including the Navy Pier, the Shedd Aquarium, an architectural boat tour, the Art Institute, 360 Chicago, dinner at Gino’s East and some shopping on the ‘Magnificent Mile’, Reynolds said.