Riverwood Choral Students Perform In New York City

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — After months of planning and hours of rehearsals, 39 Riverwood International Charter School choral students traveled to the Big Apple to take in the city and take their talents to one of the musical capitals of the world.

The trip, which took place Nov. 10-13, included a combination of three Riverwood choral groups: the Riverwood Ensemble, the Advanced Men’s Chorus, and the Advanced Women’s Chorus. In addition to the performances and sightseeing, the students participated in a Broadway Drama Workshop and attended “Come From Away” and “The Play that Goes Wrong” on Broadway. The three day trip concluded with an evening with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center.

Under the direction of Riverwood Choral Director Michael Dauterman, the groups sang at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and in Central Park. St. John the Divine, the largest cathedral in the United States, was the setting for a stunning thirty minute performance in the sanctuary. In Central Park, the students sang two Beatles songs at Strawberry Fields, the famed John Lennon memorial site.

“The trip was a wonderful opportunity for the students to immerse themselves in a vibrant city and culture and bring their talent to the stage,” Dauterman said.

Accompanying Dauterman were Assistant Principal Leon Fowler and several parental chaperones. The students held four fundraising events to finance the trip. In addition to Cheesecake Sales, Spirit Wear Sales, and a Chipotle Fundraising Night, they brought a dilapidated piano onto campus for a “piano smash.”

Held during the fall Homecoming Game festivities, donors could choose between a hammer ($1), a baseball bat ($3), or a sledgehammer ($5) and take a swing at the piano. After a few hours, and after raising over $300, the piano was in pieces.

You can check out the video of the choral groups singing "Blackbird" and "Imagine" at Strawberry Fields:

Photo 1: Students enjoying the sights of Times Square during their November visit and performances in New York City.

Photo 2: Student perform Blackbird and Imagine at Strawberry Fields.

Images via Riverwood International Charter School