Harry’s Bishops Corner Fundraiser to Help Send CREC's High School Jazz Choir to Olympics

A group of 14 high school teens from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts have been invited to perform at the 2012 London Olympics on the Olympic Village Main Stage. The local jazz choir is the only high school group from the United States chosen to perform. 

It is a huge honor for the choir, named “The Real Ambassadors” by jazz great Dave Brubeck. Notification came late to the group and funding is needed quickly; $70,000 needs to be raised to send this group to London to represent not just Greater Hartford, but the entire country.

Harry’s Bishops Corner pizzeria in West Hartford, owned by Kevin and Anne Plaut, are helping the cause by hosting a fundraiser on Tuesday, July 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The proprietors are donating a percentage of their sales that day, including dine-in and take-out orders, to the Academy for the choir’s trip. The group hopes to perform in front of the restaurant during the evening hours of the event. 

Under the direction of Dianne Mower, the choir hopes to entertain athletes, coaches and visitors from around the world July 31^st on the Main Stage of the Olympic Village. Having won the prestigious Berklee School of Music High School Jazz competition this past March (view online at http://therealambassadors.com/j15/), the group was asked to perform by the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). 

As stated in the invitation from the LOCOG:

"I would also highlight your great achievement in being selected to perform in the Olympic Park.  Many thousands of performers from around the UK and across the world applied for this wonderful opportunity and The Real Ambassadors are one of a small number of performing groups that will get to realize this great honor."

Donations by check can be made to the CREC Foundation and mailed to Ms. Kim Stroud, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, 15 Vernon Street, Hartford, CT  06106. In the subject line please put the name of the choir, The Real Ambassadors. 

PayPal and credit card donations are also accepted by going to the CREC website at: www.crec.org. Click on CREC Foundation on the right of the screen, and then click on “Donate to the Foundation.” After making your donation, please make sure you direct your donation to The Real Ambassadors. 

Donations are tax deductible. For more information or to schedule an interview with Kim Stroud or Dianne Mower or choir members, contact Stroud at 860-757-6319. Harry’s Bishops Corner is located at 732 N. Main St., West Hartford; call 860-236-0400 or visit www.harrysbc.com.