Central Kentucky News Journal

The Taylor County High School Show Choir performed in New York City on June 10-14, representing the state of Kentucky in the 2007 National Festival of the States.

Director Lisa Gupton was informed of their selection in January based upon recommendations of state music officials, past achievements of the group and upon outstanding reviews from Music Celebrations International personnel in Washington, D.C. where the group performed in 2006.

The group had three performances in New York City.

The show choir gave two 30-minute programs for students at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. One of New York City’s eight specialized high schools, the school prepares public high school students for professional careers and/or conservatory study in dance, drama, the visual arts, vocal and instrumental music and theater production.

The show choir had the opportunity to work with Professor Ira Shankman, vocal jazz professor at NYU in a specialized clinic. Shankman gave the group performance suggestions and worked with them on vocal production technique.

“The students had a great time with Mr. Shankman and received some exceptional training in both singing and showmanship,” Gupton said. “It was quite an honor to have such a prestigious gentleman work with our Taylor County High students.”

The show choir gave an hour-long performance in the public lobby of the United Nations Building. This show featured selections from their 2007 spring revue.

“We opened the set with selections from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and immediately drew a large crowd of both visitors and UN personnel. The students gave what was surely the best performance of their lives and the audience had a wonderful time,” Gupton said. “Many of the listeners who had stopped by for a moment stayed for the entire show. Watching people from other cultures enjoy the performance so much was a lifelong memory for our students.”

In addition to their performances the students were invited to the CBS Early Show.

“We were excited when we received the invitation and had a great time meeting the hosts and having our moment on national television.”

The group also attended a performance of “The Phantom of the Opera.” The five-day tour included opportunities for the show choir to visit Ellis Island, Liberty Island, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Battery Park, Wall Street, Chinatown, Little Italy, Harlem, Central Park, the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center site and many other attractions.

The National Festival of the States is organized by Music Celebrations International of Tempe, Arizona, a professional festival/event organizer with years of both national and international music festival expertise.

“It was an honor to represent Kentucky again this year in this outstanding program. We were able to sing in some outstanding venues and to share in the cultural activities of one of our nation’s greatest cities.”