Event kicks off ARTS All-Star Show Choir season

HUNTINGTON -- Thirty high school students with big voices put their spin on songs by such artists as Evanescence and Natasha Bedingfield on Saturday at the Renaissance Center in Huntington.

The show kicked off the second competitive season of the ARTS All-Star Show Choir, a community-based choir of 30 high school students from eight schools across the Tri-State.

"These are kids who are in the top of their game," said Beth McVey, representing the group's board on Saturday. "It's amazing to get to work with them."

McVey and others said the group, which also maintains a 3.9 grade point average, is full of hard workers.

The choir practices year-round, with meetings once a week and one intensive three-day practice each month.

"It's extraordinary that high school students can have this level of commitment," said Shayne Gue, one of the directors. "It's a huge responsibility, but it's a wonderful opportunity as well."

Gue directs the group alongside director Kaitlin DeSpain.

For Mark Radford, a Huntington High School senior, the group has become his number one pastime. He joined this past summer after being encouraged by choir members who performed alongside him in the Huntington Outdoor Theatre. He said it only took one practice to be convinced.

"I fell in love with it," he said. "It's pretty much my life."

Beginning next Saturday, the group will travel every weekend to compete against other schools in the country, Gue said. He said Saturday's performance raised funds and gave the community a chance to see what the youths have been doing.

A large crowd attended in support of the group this weekend, including three Huntington women who bought tickets from a family friend.

Cora Teel said she thought it was great so many teenagers from different schools were working together. She sat with Kathleen Bledsoe and Josephine Fidler for the performance.

"I like to support the young people in their endeavors," Fidler said.

Allison Conley, a senior at Spring Valley High School, said she looks forward to the many practices and the continuation of the season. She is now in her second year with the group.

"I had a lot of fun with it last year," she said.

On Saturday, Conley led the choir to start the program with a solo and later led the group's performance of Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life." The choir also performed versions of "Unwritten" by Natasha Beddingfield and various other songs on Saturday.