By Archer D’Angelo

BKI’s chorus has advanced into the TOP TEN finalists to perform at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting on NATIONAL TELEVISION! I went to both periods of the chorus elective on Thursday, November 2nd and was able to interview chorus teacher Mr. Ethan and his class along with some additional students involved in their Christmas performance. 

BKI’s chorus are participating in the STAR Chorus Contest led by singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson. The contest had 2 rounds of submissions. The first one had over a hundred applicants, who had to sing Kelly Clarkson’s Underneath The Tree. After 4 days of practicing, BKI’s chorus submitted their application. This advanced them into the top 10 finalists, and in that round they performed “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas,” which they submitted after a week of practice. 

Now on either Monday the 6th or Tuesday the 7th chorus class will learn if they made it into the top 3! To learn some more about the chorus and what happens if they advance to the top 3, read below!

Getting To Know Chorus Class

What do you like about being in Chorus?

• Adrienne, 7th: “I like how in chorus you get to build bonds and get closer with people.”
• Grace, 7th: “I like how in chorus it’s not very much pressure and you can sing and do things that you like and not feel overwhelmed, and you don’t feel embarrassed like I have to sing in front of people, it’s a lot more welcoming.”
• Chloe, 8th: “I think it’s fun to sing with everyone and we get to perform, which I like to do.”
• Ava, 8th: “I’m used to it and I’m good at it and I don’t like new things.”
• Faith, 8th: “I think it’s chill.”
• Beau, 6th: “I think it’s a good place to just express yourself and have fun.”
• Eli C, 8th: “It’s totally awesome and I have so much fun in it.”
• Daniel, 7th: “I get to sing, it’s fun.”
• Clyde, 8th: “I enjoy the camaraderie and I enjoy being able to work with Mr. Ethan and my fellow chorus members”

What is it like knowing you may perform in ROCKEFELLER CENTER on NATIONAL TELEVISION?

• CJ, 8th: “I guess it’s a little exciting to see, and also my mom wants to see me on TV.”
• Isaac, 7th: “I think it’s very cool and you get to be a bit famous.”
• Scarlet, 7th: “It’s  really exciting but also kinda scary. I’m also kinda afraid of being disappointed.”
• Adrienne, 7th: “It’s very exciting to experience something  new like that, but it’s also kinda nerve wracking because millions of people would watch us on television.”
• Grace, 7th: “I’d be very nervous if we did win, but it wouldn’t be entirely us performing because we are embodying jolly overly delightful children.”
• Daniel, 7th: “I can use it as an excuse for my parents when they are like, ‘Daniel! why didn’t you do your homework?’ and then I’ll say, ‘The emotional trauma from singing on TV’ and hopefully that will work as an excuse.”
• Clyde, 8th: “It’s would be a crazy experience and something I would never expect when coming to BKI but I definitely hope it will happen”

What do you think your chances are of winning? (Have you seen any of your competitors)

• Benji, 7th: “I think we have a great chance of winning.”
• Eli C, 8th: “I have high hopes of getting into Rockefeller Center.”
• Justice, 8th: “We will probably win but also if they just want tiny little kids then we will lose, because none of us look like children, except for Beau.”
• Beau, 6th: “I think we are definitely going to make it.”
• Zac, 7th: “I think we got a good chance at winning.”
• Chloe, 8th: “I think that we could win because I think our dances were really good.”

An Interview With Mr. Ethan

How did you get into this contest?

• Mr. Ethan: “I was watching NBC Channel 4 one evening in September and I saw a commercial that said, ‘Do you want to enter the Star Chorus Contest, and you could have a chance to sing at Rockefeller Center!’ and I thought huh, alright, that would be interesting. Let me see if BKI wants to do this. I contacted the heads of school, and I told them what would be required. We had to put together a group of students that I already have in chorus plus some additional ones who were not in chorus this term, but that I knew from last year to bring together our talented singers. We put together this special group and we practiced, and we submitted our first song. There were about a hundred entries and we made it to the top 10 and we’ve  got to see if we make it to the top 3. We will know next week.”

How will this contest work if you get to the top 3?

• Mr. Ethan: “I guess if they don’t call me then we’re done. If they do call me, then we’re in the top 3, and they will send those selections to Kelly Clarkson herself and she and her musical staff will look at it and they’ll be the ones who pick the winner. News crews are going to visit all 3 schools but the one school that won they are gonna surprise by telling them that they won.”

Does anyone have a solo?

• Mr. Ethan: “There are 5 different featured soloists in the performance, there are a few 8th graders and one 7th grader, but it’s a full ensemble piece and it’s really more about the group working together.”

Will Kelly Clarkson show up at BKI?

• Mr. Ethan: “I don’t think she will, but they said it just depends on her schedule. She will either be here in person or they’ll have a TV monitor and she will be live during her show. She will interrupt her show for this and so the audience and Kelly will see us and we will see her, and I’m guessing they will bring a TV or they will ask us if  we have a TV that they can use.”

What is the chorus doing in the elective showcase? 

• Mr. Ethan: “Chorus is working on a medley of songs from the 90s, as we may perform one of the songs from this contest.”

If you are reading this before BKI either wins or loses the contest, I have a little bit more info about what will happen next. As you read earlier, we will learn on November 6th or 7th if BKI has advanced to the top 3, and if the news crew will come on November 16th. Also if you want to go or watch the event, whether BKI wins or not, the tree lighting is on November 29th! Let’s hope BKI wins and gets to perform at Rockefeller Center!

EDIT (Nov. 6th) : BKI MADE THE TOP 3!

Archer D’Angelo

7th Grader with experience at the Ps32 Journal as Editor. He often writes about BKI News, History, and Games. He focuses on the BKI News & Global News Categories. He also is good at Canva and other Design programs used by the Terrapin Times. He is a Big Fan of History as well as Video and Board Games related to History.