Howell Chorus Students To Perform At Carnegie Hall

HOWELL, NJ — A group of Howell High School chorus students will take their vocal talents to a special event at Carnegie Hall that also features former Vice President Al Gore and actor Robert Redford in an event that highlights the environment called "The Way of the Rain — Voices of Hope."

The performance, set for 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1, is the world premiere of the live multidisciplinary show.

According to the website, "The Way of the Rain was inspired by the annual monsoon rains that sustain life on the fragile landscape of the high-desert plateaus of the Southwest." It "invites the audience to remember their physical and spiritual connection to our planet's beauty and plight through paintings, music, dance, film, light and spoken word," the website said.

It was conceived by environmental artist Sibylle Szaggars Redford — Robert Redford's wife — to explore the issue of climate change resulting in rapidly changing weather patterns and "she collaborates with world renowned artists to create a piece that illustrates crucial environmental dilemmas through performance art."

The 40 Howell students will join students from two other high schools for a 200-member chorus at the performance.

In advance of that appearance, Sibylle Szaggars Redford addressed the Howell chorus, which is under the direction of Regina MccAllen. The Howell chorus students were joined by students from Melissa Kaplan’s two environmental studies classes.

Redford’s conversation not only touched upon the students’ participation in the concert as part of The Voices of Hope Choir, but also spoke about the purpose of the concert, which is to bring attention to environmental issues facing the world.

“If we keep hurting the earth, we hurt ourselves,” she said. “We rely on you, the next generation … to inspire people to want to make the world safe and beautiful for us and for future generations.”

In addition to Redford, collaborator and composer Tim Janis spoke with the students. Gregory Leon Baird, production director of The Way of the Rain, and Elizabeth Demmer, co-producer with Tim Janis, also were present.

Four students from the Performing Arts-Entertainment Technology Magnet Program were on hand to film the entire presentation. In addition, they conducted and filmed one-on-one interviews with both Redford and Janis once the other students had departed for their next classes.

Redford and Janis collaborated for the world premiere of the concert, which jointly benefits the Natural Resources Defense Council, as well as Redford’s nonprofit organization, The Way of the Rain.

The Carnegie Hall concert will feature orchestra and choir performing while images of paintings, dance, light and spoken word are projected.

In addition to the chorus students, performers include Sibylle Szaggars Redford, Artistic Director; Vice President Al Gore; Robert Redford; N. Scott Momaday; Tim Janis, Composer; Loreena McKennitt; Máiréad Nesbitt; Lynn Hilary; Robert Mirabal; Alex Boye; Laura Dias; the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra; and The Broadway Youth Ensemble. Conductors are Julien Benichou and Matt Vanzini.

Photos by Freehold Regional High School District