Brandon

All together now

Fund-raising is in high gear for Aquilla, Brandon High's elite group of singers who have been invited to New York to perform for visitors at the Statue of Liberty.

By JANET ZINK
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 28, 2003

The young voices in the Brandon High School choir room rise and fall in the proverbial perfect harmony.

Aquilla, the school's 20-member elite group of singers, is rehearsing under the direction of Marilyn Rose Nicholson for an upcoming concert.

"Smile!" she calls out over their voices as they move through the choreography that accompanies one of their numbers.

Next, they tackle a piece from the opera Jephtha, part of their competitive repertoire.

"Don't breathe together," she calls out over their singing.

"That was flat," she coaches.

And after a few minutes: "It's beautiful."

The beauty of these voices has prompted an invitation to New York City on April 7 to perform for visitors to the Statue of Liberty.

Among other numbers, they'll sing The Star Spangled Banner, Manhattan Transfer's Boy From New York City and Razzle Dazzle from the musical Chicago.

The tourists will be treated to a performance by a group that has received top honors at show-choir competitions throughout the country.

Last year, at the Music Festivals competition in Williamsburg, Va., Aquilla won in the show-choir division and helped the school bring home the contest's grand prize.

It has received superior ratings at district and state music festivals since 1997 and at last year's Smokey Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Aquilla (which is Latin for eagle, the school mascot), is seeking corporate and individual sponsors and holding fund-raising events to offset the $700 per person cost of the trip. The amount includes airfare, hotel, a Broadway play and tours of New York City's major attractions.

Parents of the students must pick up the tab for the portion of the trip not covered through fund-raising. Nicholson says several students may not be able to go because their parents can't afford the cost.

"I have committed to taking them and we're going to find the money somehow," Nicholson says.

So far, donations have come in the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and Bob Clark Auto Services, and the students have raised money at bakes sales and garage sales and by selling hot dogs outside of Wal-Mart and a compact disk featuring Aquilla.

Tonight, they'll host a reunion concert with students from past years who were members of Aquilla. More than 25 graduates turned up for a rehearsal last week. The program begins at 7 p.m. in the Brandon High School auditorium. Tickets are $5.

How to help

To contribute to Aquilla's fund-raising efforts, mail a check payable to Brandon Chorus Boosters to:

Marilyn Rose Nicholson
Director of Choral Activities
Brandon High School
1101 Victoria St.
Brandon, FL 33510

Brandon Times: The rest of the stories