MANCHESTER – Township Middle School Chorus members went “A Long, Long Way From Home” for an incredible experience they will never forget.
The MTMS Chorus entered and won the 105.7 The Hawk’s “Sing With Foreigner” contest and was chosen to perform on July 26 live on stage with the legendary rock band Foreigner at the PNC Bank Arts Center.
As an added bonus, Foreigner donated $500 to the Manchester Township Middle School Chorus program, helping support future opportunities for student musicians.
The event may not have really taken the students that far away but it was quite memorable according to Chorus Director Katie Sherman who remarked, “this experience has been truly unforgettable, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who made it possible. Thank you to the parents for supporting their children in the arts, to Greg Lassik for creating our incredible submission video, to the team at 105.7 the Hawk for choosing our video, to the entire Manchester community and our school administration for making every logistical detail come together.”
She went to thank the students themselves “for being so hard working and dedicated, and to the amazing team at Foreigner for welcoming our choir and making our students feel like true rock stars. We will forever cherish this experience and hope to use the generously donated money to create more performance opportunities for our students in the years to come.”
Foreigner is a British–American rock band formed in New York City in 1976. The band’s debut album, “Foreigner,” was released in March 1977 and achieved significant commercial success and was certified for sales of five million copies in the United States, remaining in the top 20 for a year and peaking at number 4.
The students joined the famous band during its performance of the iconic hit “I Want to Know What Love Is,” a signature song known for its powerful choir accompaniment.
Chorus member Lilyann C noted “I absolutely loved it. The energy from the crowd was exhilarating; the size, that was excitingly terrifying.”
“It was the best and coolest thing ever. I can’t believe me and my friends got to sing on stage with real life rock stars! It was so much fun and I’ll never forget it,” fellow member Gavin L. said.
Another chorus member remarked,“It was a wonderful experience, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I was very happy, I am very thankful and I will remember it forever.”
“It really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to sing with Foreigner and see them right in front of me! I am so grateful for this incredible opportunity, and I’m sure I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” Chorus member Hanna G said.
The achievement made local officials proud.
“Our MTMS chorus students represented Manchester Township with pride during this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Watching them take the stage alongside a legendary band with poise and confidence was an unforgettable moment for our students, their families, and our entire community,” Superintendent Diane Pedroza said.
“This remarkable achievement reflects not only the dedication of our students, but also the exceptional guidance of our middle school chorus director, Katie Sherman. Mrs. Sherman has spent countless hours preparing, encouraging, and believing in these young musicians, helping them grow both as performers and as individuals,” she added.
Pedroza noted that because of Sherman’s commitment “and the hard work of our students, they were able to experience something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. We could not be prouder of all they accomplished!”
The event was noted at a recent Township Council meeting with Council President Michele Zolezi stating, “That was absolutely wonderful that they got to do that.”
