Feb 16, 2017 4 min read

For a quartet of students from Monessen High School, getting to sing in front of an audience can be exciting. But getting to sing along with the world-renowned Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra takes the performance experience to a much higher level.

Three times this week, seniors Maria Lucy, Dillon Shash and Alicia Bartholomew and sophomore Albert Johnson will join the orchestra on the stage at Heinz Hall and sing as part of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Student Chorale. The concerts are part of the PNC Pops Series and are titled “Broadway Standing Ovations.”

“The concert repertoire is made up of tunes from Broadway musicals such as ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ ‘Jesus Christ, Superstar,’ “Les Miserables’ and ‘South Pacific,'” said Christine Hestwood, who’s been preparing the 70-singer chorale, which is composed of students from 10 schools, in a series of rehearsals before the concert.

Each year, the chorale sends out an open invitation to music directors at area high schools and colleges, asking them to nominate students for inclusion in the chorale, which is open to students from 10th grade through graduate school.

At Monessen, Matthew Shorraw, assistant band director and director of the a cappella vocal ensemble, nominated eight students from the school. Four had to decline, however, because they have lead roles in the upcoming school play, “Rock of Ages,” and wouldn’t have time to rehearse for both productions. Students have to provide their own transportation to Pittsburgh for seven, three-hour rehearsals at Heinz Hall, including one with the orchestra.

“The drive into Pittsburgh isn’t the most ideal situation, but getting a chance to sing with the Pittsburgh Symphony makes it worth it,” said Shash, a tenor who also sings in the high school’s a cappella ensemble.

Because none of the four student singers has ever attended a concert at Heinz Hall, their first experience with the concert venue will come this week, not as a member of the audience, but as performers on stage.

“At first, I found it difficult to learn the songs, but by the second rehearsal, I was already familiar with them,” Lucy said. “Besides my own classmates, I also knew several students from nearby schools, which makes the experience even more fun.”

Last year, Johnson, who sings bass, played the role of Lerch in the school’s play, “The Addams Family.” This year, he’ll be in the ensemble in the production of “Rock of Ages.” Despite his previous experience on stage, he expects that he’ll be a bit nervous, but thrilled as well during the Heinz Hall concert.

“I find the idea of having all those people in the audience watching me exciting,” Johnson said. “And I love the concert repertoire. All the songs are from Broadway musicals, and I am a big fan of musical theater, which I watch on television or listen to on sound tracks. Because I’m just in the 10th grade, I think I’d be happy to participate in the chorale again next year.”

Marvin Hamlisch, the late principal Pops conductor, and Robert Page, Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh music director emeritus, started the student chorale in the 1997-98 season under the name All-Star College Choir. Since Hestwood began preparing the students for concerts back in 2013, the chorale has performed annually with the symphony.

“The students don’t get any school credit for participating,” Hestwood said. “But for most of them, it’s a significant professional experience they’re having at a young age, and they seem to look forward to it each year.”

For Bartholemew, singing in the chorale has been a learning experience that taught her more about music in general and how better to read the score in particular.

“I like the selections we’re singing, even though I didn’t know any of them when we first started rehearsals,” she said. “They’re fun and upbeat, and my favorite has become ‘Masquerade’ from ‘The Phantom of the Opera.'”

Added Shorraw, “At first, I think the students thought they’d be singing opera or classical music. But when they learned the program focused on musical theater, they became much more receptive to the idea.”

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Student Chorale will perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. For more information or tickets, call 412-392-4900.