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The Berryville High School Encore choir is officially New York-bound.
Director Benjamin Winn announced last week that the group has officially met its goal of raising $90,000 to fund its trip to New York for a performance June 26 at Carnegie Hall.
“After a year of countless hours of hard work and fundraising, Berryville Choirs is pleased to announce that they have officially met our goal,” Winn said.
The Encore ensemble will be one of several groups traveling to New York next month to perform at the historic venue along with a group of singers from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, something Winn described as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for his students.
Winn announced the group’s selection last year.
“ D r . Lorissa Mason, who serves as the director of choral activities for University of Arkansas in Little Rock, reached out to me and extended an invitation to us to perform alongside her choirs in New York City,” Winn said last year. “What that entails is my students will have to learn a piece by Francois Poulenc, a modern-day composer.”
Winn said his students — members of the school’s 36-member audition group — had their work cut out for them preparing for the 30-minute-long performance of “Gloria,” a piece written in 1960 and first premiered a year later. It features six movements scored for solo soprano, large orchestra and chorus.
The ensemble showed off the results of their wok last month during a New York City Farewell Tour Concert titled “Singing in Unity” at the University of Arkansas Little Rock Campus on April 25. They will leave for New York on June 23.
Winn said the money raised for the trip will be used for travel expenses for the 36 singers, a four-night stay in lower Manhattan near Times Square, and tickets for a performance of the Tony Award-winning musical, Hadestown.
As part of the trip, the group will also be treated to a formal reception evening cruise around Ellis Island.
In addition to the UALR ensemble, BHS’ Encore choir will be joined by Una Voce of Little Rock, and Robinson High School.
Winn extended his “tremendous gratitude” to the community, and thanked Berryville Choir Boosters president Johanna Edwards “for being at the helm on the majority of our fundraisers.”
Winn added that, although the group’s official fundraising goal had been met, there was still time and a need for additional support, encouraging those who might wish to support Berryville Choirs with meal/ emergency needs expenses for the trip to contact him by email at bwinn@bobcat. k12.ar.us.
“It’s a very exciting opportunity,” Winn said last year. “I have never personally set foot into Carnegie Hall and the fact that these students — especially coming from a very small town compared to others — get this opportunity is, it’s huge. I’m glad that Dr. Mason acknowledged how well our students are doing and offered this invitation for them to really grow their opportunities as musicians.”
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