Long Beach Chorus to Perform with Andy Cooney, Marissa Famiglietti

Long Beach Middle School chorus students will take the stage Monday as guest performers in an upcoming concert at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury.

They were invited by the Music and Theatre Legacy Foundation, which wanted to give an extraordinary music education experience to the children who were impacted by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

After generously providing a donation to the Long Beach School District music department shortly after the devastating storm, the MTLF sought other ways to make a difference in students’ lives. MTLF President Kathleen Mucciolo felt that arts in education and direct on-stage performance would be an extraordinary opportunity for the children by providing them with an enriching learning experience and inspiration from prominent artists. She coordinated the effort with Long Beach Middle School Principal Michele Natali and other district administrators.

The 30-student chorus will be joining the talented Andy Cooney and Marissa Famiglietti for the concert on Monday, March 16 at 2 p.m. Cooney, fondly referred to as “Irish America’s Favorite Son,” is one of the greatest-known singers of Irish music and has recorded 18 albums. Famiglietti is a popular opera singer who has earned admiration from audiences throughout the East Coast. The Long Beach students have had the opportunity to work with Cooney and learn from his expertise prior to the show during rehearsals at the school.

“We greatly appreciate the support of the MTLF in broadening our students’ performing arts involvement,” said Long Beach School District Director of Comprehensive Arts Dr. Dale Johansen. “The children have spent time practicing and are enthusiastically anticipating their musical debut on a major Long Island stage.”

The MTLF is a nonprofit arts in education organization whose mission is to build a bridge to a new generation of audiences by providing them with engaging learning experiences that celebrate the great legacies of world-class music and theater. The focus is dedicated to enriching the lives of students through their performance with gifted artists. The MTLF holds a Certificate of Authority from the New York State Education Department.

“The impact of performing rather than observing is arts in education at its most powerful,” Mucciolo said. “Our goal is to create memorable experiences that energize and ignite the next generation’s passion for music and theater. We can call it ’collaborative learning’ but it’s truly about the student’s participation in all performance steps and keeping our artistic future bright for generations to come!”

Tickets for the event can be purchased by phone at 516-455-9393. To learn more about the MTLF please visit their website here.

Submitted by Long Beach Schools

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