The 4th and 5th grade choruses from Roselle Park School District (RPSD) elementary schools will be performing at the Prudential Center on Thursday, May 26th in the American Young Voices (AYV) Concert.
This event invites all tri-state area schools – grade kindergarten through 8th grade – to participate in this 6,000 student chorus. The student chorus will be accompanied by professional musicians who have played with famous rock musicians and have also performed in Broadway orchestras.
“We have been practicing the music since January during chorus rehearsal from 7:45-8:20 in the morning every week,” commented Alison Cogswell, the chorus director for Sherman and EJF/Aldene Schools. Along with Robert Gordon School chorus director Andrew Williamson, the chorus singers have been working on the repertoire of 10 songs that were chosen by the American Young Voices staff. Those compositions are:
- Power In Me
- Invincible
- Lean On Me
- Pop Medley 2016
- You Raise Me Up
- Sabor Medley (in English and Spanish)
- Adiemus
- Papageno/Papagena Duet
- Weather Medley
- Don’t Stop Believin’
Under the direction of Alison Cogswell, last year’s Robert Gordon School chorus participated in the first ever American Young Voices concert as a trial. She recalled, “It was a huge success! Some of the reactions of the parents that attended last year were ranged from tears of joy to amazement. It left all of us speechless. So of course we did it again this year, opening it up to all elementary school choruses in Roselle Park.”
The students will arrive at the Prudential Center on Thursday for a three-hour rehearsal which will be followed by a dinner break. The doors will then open up to the audience at 7 o’clock in the evening.
“The students are beyond excited!” stated Alison, “This is an opportunity of a lifetime to be able to sing in such a large arena. The parents are in for a real treat. They really don’t know how amazing this show will be until they get there!”
More information on AYV can be found by visiting their website (link).