The Versailles High School chamber choir students showcased their talents Sunday for the first time in the new Jeffrey B. Carter Performing Arts Center & FEMA Safe Room during a grand opening ceremony at the Morgan County R-2 School District campus.
A voter-approved 15-cent tax levy increase in April 2014 funded the lease-purchase acquired for the school's portion of the $6.3 million center construction project, with FEMA covering approximately $2.3 million.
The chamber choir was excited to be one of the first to perform on the center's new stage. They are equally enthused to perform this spring on a much older stage - more than 120 years older, in fact.
International musical, political and iconic individuals have also taken that older stage, including Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, the Beatles, former President Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein. Now, the Versailles High School chamber choir, along with other students from around the country, will perform in the same historic venue - Carnegie Hall in New York City - April 2.
Continuous high ratings at regional competitions the last few years led to the area choir's invitation to join in the National Youth Choir performance at Carnegie Hall.
"We have been participating in the Heritage Festival for the last three years," said Lori Croy, Versailles teacher and choir director. "We went to Chicago two years ago and received golden ratings at that one. Then we went to Nashville and for two years in a row received high enough ratings we were now invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York."
Outside of rehearsals and the Carnegie Hall performance, the 38 Versailles students, including the chamber choir and additional concert choir members, will attend a Broadway performance of "Aladdin," visit the National Sept. 11 Memorial & Museum and tour the Statue of Liberty. About 20 parents, teachers and staff will join Croy and choir members during the trip.
The choir had the option to perform this spring or in 2018 at Carnegie Hall. Going this year was the right choice, especially for the choir's seniors, Croy said.
"Last year, seniors didn't get to participate, and I wanted to get as many students there that had helped our choir get here, especially those who have been in choir all four years," she said.
Senior Sidney Chism is one student who appreciates being a part of the experience.
"We are a small-town school and choir, and it is exciting to be all together and perform with all these different schools from across the country in a place like Carnegie Hall," she said.
Croy and the choir started fundraising for the trip last summer. Croy said it costs approximately $1,700 per student, which is approximately $90,000 for everyone to attend the trip, including lodging, meals, excursions and other expenses.
"So far, we are at $75,000; it is amazing," she said.
Those funds have come from a variety of fundraisers, including candy box sales, performing concessions at school events, donations and special raffles. They have also participated in "student for hire" work, including catering meals and cleaning lake homes and even contributed their own money to the fund.
"All I asked for Christmas was money, and I got about $275," junior Isaac Waller said. "I gave it all back to help fund our trip to New York."
The choir has several fundraising activities coming up, including running concessions for a portion of proceeds at Versailles basketball games Friday and Feb. 7, full proceeds returned for concessions during district wrestling meets Feb. 10-11, and proceeds earned for serving and cleaning up at the Feb. 10 Eldon Knights of Columbus Fish Fry.
Small segments of the group are looking to do singing telegrams, and the choir is performing at various churches for donations. Upcoming church performances are at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Versailles Assembly of God, Feb. 11 at Trinity Baptist in Versailles and Feb. 12 at Versailles Methodist Church.
Croy said word is getting out about upcoming performances, with the choir asked to perform at area Valentine's Day banquets and a scheduled concert during a book-signing event at 2 p.m. Feb. 26 at Shrine of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Laurie.
It is a dream come true for Croy, who grew up in Versailles and has served 28 years teaching in the Morgan County R-2 School District. She is proud of the more than 100 students who participate in the choir program, a high percentage of the close to 380 who attend the high school. Even though Croy is eligible for retirement, she said the students keep her teaching and leading the choir program.
"I told the kids it is up to them whether I stay or go, and they have made me want to stay," she said. "My heart is here, and this is a wonderful community. I'm so excited about the future and what we have to look forward to; we have the opportunity to do something outside of the box."
Donations to assist with the Versailles High School choir's trip to Carnegie Hall can be sent to Morgan County R-2, Attention: Lori Croy, 913 W. Newton, Versailles, MO 65084.