The Severna Park High School Vocal Ensemble was chosen to join voices with students from across the nation to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, Va.
President George Bush, first lady Laura Bush and Queen Elizabeth II are expected to be part of the crowd of 30,000 watching the May 13 performance, and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O?Connor will be the host.
“When I first asked, ?How would you like to sing for the Queen of England?? the students just stared at me, saying, ?You?re kidding,? ” said Kathleen Gabriele, chorus teacher at the school. “It sunk in that these dignitaries were going to be there, and they are really excited.”
The 40 members of the Severna Park ensemble will be part of a 1,607-member choir, to symbolize the year the Jamestown settlement was founded.
“It?s going to be really awesome singing with so many people,” said Aria Guarino, a Severna Park sophomore. “It?s a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. The anniversary is never going to happen again.”
Music Celebrations International, an Arizona-based event promoter, has been planning the event for more than a year. They chose schools to participate in the choir based on auditions and recommendations, said Dan Schwartz, performance manager for the company.
The two-hour performance will include mostly patriotic and classic American songs, including the “1918 Overture” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
“It?s a very American program that really celebrates the country,” Schwartz said. “When you get that many people singing together at the same time it?s a very lush, full sound.”
The Severna Park Vocal Ensemble needs to raise $20,000 to cover expenses for traveling to and participating in the event.
“The students are nervous about raising the money in time,” Gabriele said.
Students are selling a compact disc with their vocals and selling tickets to a concert to raise funds.
