Rock Star for the Night

This news story ran in the Las Vegas Sun.

 

Basic High choir to perform with Foreigner at Green Valley Ranch

By Paul Takahashi (contact), Las Vegas Sun

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 | 1:55 a.m.

Publicity photo

Foreigner

Friday night will surely be a night to remember for 24 Basic High School Concert Choir members as they take to the stage with Foreigner during the band's concert in Henderson.

The budding singers will perform the British-American band’s 1984 hit “I Want to Know What Love Is” with Foreigner members themselves at Green Valley Ranch.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said Basic choir director Lynne Ricci. “We’re pumped up.”

A Station Casinos representative contacted Ricci in March about the opportunity to perform with Foreigner, she said.

Company officials had “heard positive things about the program” from caroling at the Galleria Mall during the holidays to a performance at MonteLago Village at Lake Las Vegas, Ricci said.

The choir also performed with singer Josh Groban a few years ago. Now, some of the younger siblings of Basic students who performed with Groban can share the spotlight with Foreigner, Ricci said.

For Ricci – who grew up listening to Foreigner – the upcoming concert is a chance to introduce the band to her students. However, during the audition process, Ricci said she was surprised to learn many of her students already knew of the band.

“I was pretty sure they wouldn’t know this group, but I was surprised,” she said. “This has created a lot of excitement.”

The choir has been practicing the song for the past three weeks and plans to have three rehearsals this week to polish the performance. As part of the partnership, Foreigner is donating $1,000 to the Basic choir.

“It came together quite fast,” Ricci said. “I’m so glad we can bring this honor and prestige to our program.”

The marquee at Green Valley Ranch.

On April 29th, Tyce and 23 of the best singers at Basic were chosen to perform with Foreigner! How cool is that? I got to go to the concert as a chaperon, which was super fun. Those kids had so much energy. They sold CDs before the show and made a ton of money. In fact, our family inadvertently bought two. When the kids weren't in the lobby they were in a special VIP room with catered food.

Tyce with a few friends before the show.

Getting a little pick-me-up from a friend.

Tyce and Andrea, who have known each other since forever.

Danny, Jose, and Tyce

Some of the lovely ladies (and a self-proclaimed ladies' man).

 Their director, Miss Ricci, warmed them up shortly before going on stage, and the kids sounded awesome singing "I Want to Know What Love Is". It's a good thing I got to hear their hamonies and see the choreography in the warm-up because everything was concert-loud and -crowded on stage. They rocked it!

Before the choir went on stage I got to watch Foreigner perform "Urgent" and "Cold as Ice".

Then the choir got a big welcome as special guests. Kelly Hansen, the lead singer, was extremely complimentary and gracious.

Here's a close-up on the side screen.

This is my favorite picture because you can tell the crowd loved it!

Afterward the drummer, Jason Sutter, gave Tyce the drumsticks he'd just used. They said "Foreigner" on them and were totally beat up. You can't pay for a treasure like that!

It was a really amazing night and I'm so incredibly excited that he and the other kids could have that once-in-a-lifetime experience. Congratulations on a great performance, Basic! And thank you to Foreigner for the privilege and opportunity of letting these young people share the stage with such awesome rock legends!