Choir leaves for presidential performance

Posted on May 11, 2007

Reprinted from the New Haven Register - 5/11/2007
by Pamela McLoughlin, Register Staff

MILFORD • Choir members at Lauralton Hall left Thursday on a field trip of sorts that required individual clearance from the U.S. Secret Service.

The girls, members of the school’s advanced vocal ensemble and concert choir, needed the clearance because they will perform Sunday before President Bush at ceremonies in Jamestown, Va., which was founded 400 years ago and is believed to be the birthplace of modern America. 

"I’m excited to meet people from all over," said Samantha Free, 17, a choir member from Stamford.

Krystal McKane, 18, of West Haven, said she hopes the honor of being chosen to sing at such a prestigious event leads to more trips and competitions for the choir.

Lauralton’s director of music, Margy Sargent, said the school’s choir was invited to send an audition disc, and subsequently was invited to represent Connecticut. The all-girl Catholic high school draws students from throughout the state.

Sargent said the final day of America’s Anniversary Weekend will include one choir from each state, 1,607 singers to represent the year Jamestown was founded, and 400 musicians, one for every year that’s passed.

The choirs from all the states, learning their parts separately before the trip, will rehearse together until Sunday. The songs mostly will be patriotic, including "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "God Bless America" and "Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor."

"It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing and we understand that," Sargent said. "I’m excited."

Originally, Queen Elizabeth II was to be at the ceremony, but her schedule changed.

Choir member Jocelyn Gaudett, 17, of New Haven, said she was a little disappointed about the queen’s change in plans, and had hoped she’d bring her two handsome grandsons, but, "the president’s cool, too."

Amanda Doerr, 17, of Milford, also a choir member, said the choir has been trying to get noticed for years and this gig has brought it lots of recognition.

"It’s such an honor," she said.

Jamestown, settled in 1607, was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. Traditions established at Jamestown, including representative government, the rule of law, free enterprise and cultural diversity, form the basis of American culture. Plymouth, Mass., settled by Pilgrims 13 years later, was established primarily for religious reasons.