Members of the NHS Chorus continue to raise money for overseas festival
NORWICH – Next July can’t come soon enough for seven select members of the Norwich High School Choir, as the group of friends continue to raise funds for their journey to the Prague Choral Festival.
Held annually in the musical mecca and capital of the Czech Republic, the week-long adventure will feature a number of clinics, musical workshops and concerts under the direction of famed American conductors Dr. André Thomas and Dr. Anton Armstrong, culminating with performances of Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” and W.A. Mozart’s “Requiem” in Prague’s legendary Smetana Hall.
Approximately 400 vocalists, hailing from the United States of America, Russia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, will attend the event and NHS Musical Director Mary Mayo, along with Pennies For Prague Committee Chairman Betsy Mahannah, are working with the students, their parents and the community to raise money in an effort to offset costs associated with the voyage.
This will be Mayo’s third trip to the “City of a Hundred Spires,” and the high school choir director said she believes the experience will be an outstanding one for her students.
“Prague was one of Mozart’s favorite places to visit and it will be meaningful to perform in the same city where he spent so much of his time,” stated Mayo, who added she’s excited to be working with such world-class conductors. “I’ve been really pleased with the students’ preparation so far and they’ve rehearsed throughout their summer vacation with joy and enthusiasm.”
Mahannah described the seven students – NHS juniors Amanda Caulfield, Joshua Mahannah, Megan Reynolds, Sean Sheldon, sophomores Tambria Schroeder and Brittany Root and freshman Brooke Bonney – as “extraordinary” and “a pleasure,” and said they’re “doing very well” as far as fundraising is concerned.
The students plan to hold monthly Pennies For Prague fundraisers through next July, added the committee chairman, including a 4 p.m. performance on Sept. 11 at the United Church of Christ, 11 West Main Street.
The recital, which is open to the public at no cost, will feature musical offerings from the students themselves – with some assistance from fellow choir members Jacob Misch, Courtney Becker, Shannon Richards, Mallory Norton and Dillon Smith – and duets by Prague Choral Festival Director and Hartwick College Music Director Dr. Jirka Kratochvil, accompanied by local guitarist Tom Rasely, and Mayo herself, joined by Cathy Hammons, who will also travel to Prague with the group.
A reception and meet-and-greet with the students will follow and goodwill donations will be accepted.
“I’m just really honored that I get to go overseas and perform because I love to travel and I love to sing,” said tenth-grader Schroeder. “I’m excited to go and I think I’m really going to grow as a person and a singer.”
NHS junior Caulfield concurred and added while the performance will “definitely be challenging,” she “thinks it’s going to be a great opportunity.”
“Ms. Mayo has definitely prepared us well for both the experience and the performance,” stated high school junior Mahannah, who said he’s “excited that we’re going to a city that’s centuries old” and to experience the culture while visiting.
For more information on Pennies For Prague or to make a donation, contact Mayo at 334-9476.
Held annually in the musical mecca and capital of the Czech Republic, the week-long adventure will feature a number of clinics, musical workshops and concerts under the direction of famed American conductors Dr. André Thomas and Dr. Anton Armstrong, culminating with performances of Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” and W.A. Mozart’s “Requiem” in Prague’s legendary Smetana Hall.
Approximately 400 vocalists, hailing from the United States of America, Russia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, will attend the event and NHS Musical Director Mary Mayo, along with Pennies For Prague Committee Chairman Betsy Mahannah, are working with the students, their parents and the community to raise money in an effort to offset costs associated with the voyage.
This will be Mayo’s third trip to the “City of a Hundred Spires,” and the high school choir director said she believes the experience will be an outstanding one for her students.
“Prague was one of Mozart’s favorite places to visit and it will be meaningful to perform in the same city where he spent so much of his time,” stated Mayo, who added she’s excited to be working with such world-class conductors. “I’ve been really pleased with the students’ preparation so far and they’ve rehearsed throughout their summer vacation with joy and enthusiasm.”
Mahannah described the seven students – NHS juniors Amanda Caulfield, Joshua Mahannah, Megan Reynolds, Sean Sheldon, sophomores Tambria Schroeder and Brittany Root and freshman Brooke Bonney – as “extraordinary” and “a pleasure,” and said they’re “doing very well” as far as fundraising is concerned.
The students plan to hold monthly Pennies For Prague fundraisers through next July, added the committee chairman, including a 4 p.m. performance on Sept. 11 at the United Church of Christ, 11 West Main Street.
The recital, which is open to the public at no cost, will feature musical offerings from the students themselves – with some assistance from fellow choir members Jacob Misch, Courtney Becker, Shannon Richards, Mallory Norton and Dillon Smith – and duets by Prague Choral Festival Director and Hartwick College Music Director Dr. Jirka Kratochvil, accompanied by local guitarist Tom Rasely, and Mayo herself, joined by Cathy Hammons, who will also travel to Prague with the group.
A reception and meet-and-greet with the students will follow and goodwill donations will be accepted.
“I’m just really honored that I get to go overseas and perform because I love to travel and I love to sing,” said tenth-grader Schroeder. “I’m excited to go and I think I’m really going to grow as a person and a singer.”
NHS junior Caulfield concurred and added while the performance will “definitely be challenging,” she “thinks it’s going to be a great opportunity.”
“Ms. Mayo has definitely prepared us well for both the experience and the performance,” stated high school junior Mahannah, who said he’s “excited that we’re going to a city that’s centuries old” and to experience the culture while visiting.
For more information on Pennies For Prague or to make a donation, contact Mayo at 334-9476.
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