Peters Township students to perform at Carnegie Hall
Kayley Morrow, center, practices with the Rowdy Rhythm choir.
Charlie Meyers, center, and the Rowdy Rhythm choir from Peters Township High School will perform March 20 at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Imagine being a high school senior and getting the once-in-a-lifetime chance to sing on the stage at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
On March 20, Rowdy Rhythm, the Peters Township High School’s Barbershop choir, will be doing just that as part of the Total Vocal Show, produced by Deke Sharon, a nationally known music producer, arranger and performer.
The choir, under the direction of Ryan Perrotte, the school’s choral director, was asked to perform in the show after Sharon, the producer of the Pitch Perfect musical comedy films, saw a video of the choir on You Tube. Twenty-eight members of Rowdy Rhythm – ranging from freshmen to seniors – are leaving by bus March 17 for New York City to perform in the show. Perrotte said the students will get to see “Finding Neverland,” which stars Kelsey Grammar on Broadway and will get a behind-the-scenes tour of Radio City Music Hall.
“What an experience they’re going to get,” said Perrotte. “It’s an opportunity of a lifetime.”
Two of Perrotte’s students, Charlie Meyers, 17, of Finleyville, and Kayley Morrow, 18, of McMurray, will be singing a cappella solos during the performance. Meyers, a senior, said he will be performing “Shut Up and Dance” by the group Walk the Moon, while Morrow will be singing the B-52s “Love Shack.”
“I am nervous and excited,” Morrow said.
Added Perrotte, “They both are professionals.”
Morrow and Meyers are indeed veteran performers and are used to singing solo in large venues such as the Consol Energy Center. Still, Carnegie Hall is one of the best-known performance centers in the country.
“Where do you go from Carnegie Hall ?” Perrotte said. “It is the pinnacle. I am going to be sitting there like a proud papa.”
Despite the fact both are graduating from high school in June, music and singing will remain in their futures.
Morrow will be attending West Virginia University in the fall, where she plans to major in psychology. Meyers, too, will be attending college in Morgantown. He said he plans to double major in engineering and musical theater. They both said music is a passion and they plan to be active in choirs and a cappella groups.