The Charlotte Amalie High School and Ivanna Eudora Kean High School Unity Choir returned from the Worldstrides New York Heritage Festival in New York City on May 30, 2016 with top awards!
The Harmonic Rays and Hawks Unity Concert Choir under the direction of Ms. Jeannette A. Rhymer ( lead director) & Mrs. Neomie Toussaint Williams traveled to NYC on Thursday, May 26 to participate in the Worldstrides Onstage Performance Festival held at the historic Riverside Church on Saturday, May 28, 2016. The Unity Choir consisted of 38 students from the Ivanna Eudora Kean and the Charlotte Amalie high schools. The Unity Choir debuted at the Worldstrides Music Festival in London in 2014 under the invitation of Kean High director, Ms. Rhymer to colleague Mrs. Williams.
At the 2016 Worldstrides festival, the group received the following awards:
1. IEKHS Harmonic Rays & CAHS Hawks Unity Choir ....... GOLD
Directors: Jeannette A. Rhymer & Neomie T. Williams
2. IEKHS Jazz Choir....Silver
Director: Jeannette A. Rhymer
The group was also recognized for its outstanding musicianship with awards in other categories:
3. Outstanding Choral Group Award
4. Sweepstakes choral Award (combined individual choir high scores)
5. Choral Adjudicator Award (combined individual choic high scores)
6. Maestro Award..... Indira Labone (vocal solo performance)
7. Maestro Award- Jahmor Marrishow (vocal solo performance)
The Harmonic Rays & Hawks Unity Choir has performed at both IEKHS and CAHS during the 2016 spring concerts before traveling to NYC. While in NYC, the Unity Choir also worshipped and participated in the worship service at the Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church in the Bronx, New York on Sunday, May 29. Additionally, students attended the Broadway musical "Shuffle Along" based on the musical career of playwright, Eubie Blake.
The students gave impromptu performances in restaurants and airplanes, and their exemplary behavior was noted by restaurant staff and festival organizers.
Congratulations on a job well done!
