Lake Shore Students To Participate In Tri-State Concert

Next month, the Chorus of Lake Shore will travel to Virginia to perform in the American Young Voices concert.

The concert brings together roughly 35 schools for a joint performance.

“I was moved to see so many children joining together in unity. It was beautiful, and song is one thing almost everyone can appreciate,” said Lake Shore Elementary School Principal Julie Little-McVearry. “With the appropriate song choices, it doesn’t matter where you come from, or what your life experiences, color, ethnicity or poverty level are. Everyone is equally a participant and successful.”

This is Lake Shore’s first time participating in the concert, and it is the only school in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system participating.

General music teacher and chorus director Elizabeth Heist is taking 74 fourth- and fifth-grade students to the concert. Heist said she is excited for her students to have the opportunity to work with new people.

“They usually only get the opportunity to work with our group. This is a chance for them to get to work with more kids and a different conductor,” Heist said. “They only ever work with me, so it’s nice for them to get to hear and see a different perspective.”

The concert consists of 10 songs, including a “Moana” medley, a medley from “The Greatest Showman,” “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay and an AYZ pop medley.

Heist has been working on the music with her students all year, and two of the medleys will be featured in the upcoming Lake Shore Elementary concert. Students request “The Greatest Showman” medley at every rehearsal, Heist said.

“It’s a lot of fun, upbeat music,” Heist said. “Overall, they’re excited about the songs.”

Going forward, Heist said this is an opportunity she wants to continue to provide for her students.

“It’s an extra motivator to doing chorus,” Heist said. “It rewards them at the end of the year for the hard work they’ve put in. Plus, it’s a good experience for them.”

Little-McVearry echoed Heist’s interest in continuing to participate with American Young Voices.

“Since Lake Shore Elementary is designated as an Arts Integration School with a Triple-E program, I believe it is my purpose to provide the students with as many opportunities as possible to experience and engage in learning through the arts,” Little-McVearry said.

The concert takes place on Monday, June 3, at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia. The concert starts at 7:00pm. Tickets are $30 per person, and they are available online at www.americanyoungvoices.com.

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