After performing last year at Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden, the Franklin School Chorus will appear at the Prudential Center in Newark later this month.
The chorus sang “God Bless America” and the “Star-Spangled Banner” last year at Madison Square Garden when they opened up for the New York Liberty, the Women’s National Basketball Association team. This year the team has moved to Newark, and the school was invited to return and perform at their new home on May 25.
That game is special since New Jersey public high schools have been invited to attend, so the chorus’ audience will be their peers.
“I’m always going to use these [experiences] as my building blocks.” – Nisarg Shah
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Upcoming performance
Eighth grader Vivian Talavera said that the chorus has not only had the opportunity to take part in community outreach programs, like singing for North Bergen’s elderly residents and at WinterFest, but they have gone to competition and well-known stages.
“I think it’s fun and exciting,” she said. “Not a lot of kids get to do it at this age and I’m looking forward to it.”
Gina Caballero, also an eighth grader, agreed that it was an exciting experience, but said that they always knew the chorus always had the talent.
“My big performance was at Madison Square Garden,” said eighth grader Nisarg Shah. “When I was there, I was just so surprised. I never thought I was going to be able to perform there, at the world’s most famous arena.”
Almost $5,000
The reason these students have been allowed to visit these prestigious stages is largely due to their choral director, Dr. Armine Irving, and her fundraising efforts.
Irving recently held a voice recital. The event raised $2,500 for the music program’s budget next year. A former student performed and teachers volunteered their time to make raffle prizes. Some attendees donated funds.
“[This is for transportation for] our kids to sing at Radio City and all that stuff,” said Irving. “When we come in September, [we won’t] feel that we don’t have any money and have to raise it from scratch.”
This year Irving raised nearly $5,000 with the help of her fellow faculty. First grade teacher Renee Cody won $150 in a 50/50 raffle, but donated it back to Franklin School since throughout the year she has helped Irving raise funds through pizza and bagel sales. She couldn’t imagine keeping it, she said.
“I feel like our teachers deserve so much credit for it,” said Osorio.
Cultural experiences for students
The music program funds not only went toward the chorus and its performances, but will allow all of the eighth grade students to attend the “Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway at the end of this school year.
Earlier in the school year Irving approached seventh and eighth grade language arts teacher Beatrice Buccos about creating cross-curriculum lessons related to the classic musical. The social studies instructor could explain the location of the play, while other subjects like math and music could also expand upon it. The end of the lesson will culminate with the students seeing the show.
“It’s not just seeing the ‘Phantom of the Opera,’” said Principal Peter Clark “We want our kids to be exposed to a lot of different venues, to a lot of different cultural experiences.
Clark said that the field trip wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the school’s staff.
Students said they have recognized how important these opportunities have been to their future.
“I’m always going to use these [experiences] as my building blocks,” said Shah. “Since I’ve performed at Madison Square Garden, Radio City, and [now] Prudential Center, next time I perform, I won’t be so nervous.”