New Orleans (AP) – New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Every spring is known for hosting some of the world’s most famous jazz, funk and rock acts. But it also became a showcase for local school children, a lesser-known talent.
The local high school gospel choir took to the stage on Friday. Festival’s The famous gospel tent is a decades-long tradition for Louisiana students.
The first one to perform was the Eleanor McMaine Choir, which shook the audience with an explosion of musical joy, ranging from the swaying voice of “Melody from Heaven” and the acapella rendition of “The Republic’s Battle Hymn.”
Choir member Chloe Bailey, 18, said the performance was a proud one.
“I’m not only proud of myself, I’m proud of my parents, I’m also proud of the whole world, and I’m sure I’ll see how beautiful it is because black and black children will flourish and there aren’t many opportunities like this,” she said.
In a city with a rich musical heritage, the festival is an esteemed opportunity to celebrate the art that teachers once did not pay attention to in schools.
Matthew Sakakeeny, a music professor at Tulane University, said he suffered from reduced music education in New Orleans in the 1990s. Until then, majority of black schools usually had at least one full-time music teacher. The school was separatedHowever, dozens of teachers have lost their jobs and offerings have been “dramatically reduced,” he said.
Hurricane Katrina was another blow, with the city’s traditional public schools being replaced by charter schools. Sakakeeny said there is a great pressure to focus on core scholars rather than art, as they get shut down if the test score is not sufficient.
“It’s ironic that we are the birthplace of jazz, but middle schoolers, elementary school students and elementary school students may not even be able to go to music classes,” said Emeka Divia, choir director McDonag35, the first public high school founded for black students in New Orleans.
Gospel has been an integral part of the jazz fest since its inception in 1970 and was discovered by gospel legend Maharia Jackson. McDonogh 35 students began performing in the 1970s, with more schools following on, Divia said. Now it’s a tradition for JazzFest to spend a day featuring a student gospel choir.
Even the artists performed in the gospel tents when she was in ninth grade, even on the posters of this year’s official jazz fest.
McDonag 35 will perform on Friday with another historic Black Public High School, LB Landry choir, with McDonag 35 performing next week.
Tyree Arso, 18-year-old McMain soloist, said it’s amazing to think about performing at the same festival as an artist like Lil Wayne.
“It reminds me that I will recognize those who have come before me and try to do my best to honor them,” said Arso, who will be attending the Boston Conservatory in Berklee next year.
The Gospel Choir is an extracurricular activity at schools like McMaine, who has been coaching young singers for decades by choir director Clyde Lawrence. He said religious music is permitted in public school settings because there is educational value to learn about different musical styles.
“I want to expose them to our heritage, to our gospel and to our hymns,” he said.
The choir is paid for performances at Jazz Fest, which funds arts education. However, for students like Leah Hawkins, a sophomore at McDonag 35, the opportunity is important for other reasons.
Leah says she will be surrounded by the gospel for the rest of her life, but in front of the audience she is shaking with the horrors of the stage. Her mom told her to join the choir anyway: “You’re going to sing.”
Since then, 16-year-old Leah said her confidence has blossomed.
“You can’t care what people think. If you have a voice, you can use it and it doesn’t matter what it’s for,” Leah said.
Wesley Whitzett, her 17-year-old choir, said he also needs an adult to push him to get over his nerves. Both students sang alongside the student choir at the opening of this year’s Super Bowl and performed “All Voices and Sings” on Ledisi.
“I didn’t know I could do that. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to sing,” Wesley said.
But even the kids who performed at the Superdome have had something about the Gospel tent stage. While millions of people may be watching the Super Bowl, Jazz Fest represents the soul of New Orleans.
“I don’t even know what that would be,” Leah said. “That’s a huge feeling, I can say that.”
___
Associated Press Education Compensation receives financial support from several private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP standard For charity, list of ap.org supporters and funded compensation areas.
Source link
