Seahorse Chorale performs for concert series
Island students recently took part in a performance trip to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
The Sanibel School’s Seahorse Chorale traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City, New York, from April 18-22 to perform at iconic historical venues as part of a national concert series.
Music Director Joey Giangreco reported that the travel company the school worked with on several recent trips, including performances by the students at Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry, is sponsoring 250 concerts for 250 groups this school year at various cities for a “250 Concerts” series.
He continued that they submitted an application and then auditioned.
“We were lucky enough to be accepted to perform in two cities,” Giangreco said.
“Our performances were in celebration of the 250th of the United States of America,” he added.
Fifteen students with the Seahorse Chorale — an elective class at the school for grades 6-8 — were able to take part in the performance trip, joined by several parents, family members and siblings.
“Every student that wanted to be able to go on the trip was able,” Giangreco said.
For the program, the group did “A Journey Through Song in America.”
“We wanted for our performance to represent the values and themes across American history,” he said, adding that it covered four different areas: songs of adventure, of purpose, of freedom and of hope.
For songs of adventure, the students sang “Come Sail Away,” “Sloop John B” and “Songs of a Disney Sidekick,” which was a medley of “Under the Sea,” “The Bare Necessities,” “Friend Like Me,” “Hakuna Matata” and “Be Our Guest.”
For songs of purpose, they performed “How Can I Keep from Singing?” and “Dance,” along with a medley of “Defying Gravity/Go the Distance.”
For songs of freedom, the students did “Our America” — a medley of patriotic songs that included “Yankee Doodle,” “The Yankee Doodle Boy,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “This Land Is Your Land” and “God Bless the USA” — “O, America!” and “Hamilton Highlights,” a medley of “Alexander Hamilton,” “You’ll Be Back,” “The Schuyler Sisters,” “Wait for It,” “The Room Where It Happens” and “My Shot.”
For songs of hope, they sang “Keep Your Head Up” and “One Day.”
On April 19, the students performed at Faneuil Hall in Boston.
“Faneuil Hall is a very historical building for our country,” Giangreco said, citing the sugar rebellion and American Revolution and where the motto “No taxation without representation” came from.
He added that George Washington celebrated the nation’s first birthday at the building.
On April 22, they performed on top of the One World Trade Center in New York City.
“That was truly breathtaking,” Giangreco said, explaining that the backdrop for the students was Manhattan Island and skyscrapers. “To see that and to hear those songs performed to that.”
Both concerts featured only the Seahorse Chorale.
“The students did an incredible job with each performance,” he said.
Giangreco noted that both spaces were acoustically friendly.
“The students really enjoyed getting to perform in very unique spaces and very historical spaces that are very important to our country,” he said.
They were also able to showcase their talents to audience members from all over the world.
“It was a once-in-lifetime experience to do that,” Giangreco said.
In addition to the concerts, the students took part in three impromptu performances: two in Central Park — one on the stage that hosts “Good Morning America’s” Summer Concert Series — and one in the “TODAY Show” plaza at the Rockefeller Center. They also had the opportunity to do a workshop with two professionals in the field: Charles South, who is starring in “Aladdin” on Broadway, and Michael Dansicker, who works with youth on Broadway and TV and in film on their vocals and storytelling.
“Charles worked with the students to teach them the dance, choreography, for part of the song ‘Arabian Nights,'” he said. “Michael worked on teaching them the vocals for ‘Arabian Nights’ and worked with them on developing a character and telling the story of the song.”
The group also got in some sightseeing.
In Boston, the students toured the Freedom Trail, which included Bunker Hill and the monument with nearly 300 steps. They saw Paul Revere’s house and some of the Founding Fathers’ gravesites. The group visited the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and took part in an interactive experience, tossing tea overboard from a ship. They did an escape room with physical challenges, like obstacle courses.
In New York City, the students did a dinner sightseeing cruise, getting to view the New York Harbor, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge. They also toured Central Park, The High Line, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, the World Trade Center area and Greenwich Village. In addition, they got to enjoy “Aladdin” performed on a Broadway stage.
Giangreco noted that South secured the entire group passes for a backstage tour after the show.
“That was so kind of Charles to do for us and we are so grateful,” he said.
In order to go on the trip, the students did car washes at Bank of Islands and took part in a pumpkin bread fundraiser, Christmas tree festival and auction, and Putt and Pub fundraiser on Fort Myers Beach, where Mr. Waves Island Bar sponsored a giveback event. The Point Ybel Brewing Company also sponsored a giveback event, and there was a dodge ball tournament at the school, along with the ticket sales and concessions from some of their fall performances.
“We did work very had to fundraise for the trip so that way any student that was interested in going was able to attend,” Giangreco said, adding a big thank you to FISH of Sanibel-Captiva for helping to support those families that needed additional financial assistance.
He reported that he could not be more proud of his students.
“They were incredible representatives of The Sanibel School and brought beautiful music to perform,” Giangreco said. “They really bonded together as a group and made memories that will last a long time.”
“I’m thankful for all of the families that were there to support,” he added. “And Mrs. (Jennifer) Lusk, our principal, for her incredible support.”