
DATE: Friday, March 14, 1997                TAG: 9703140603

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY NANCY YOUNG, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   68 lines

STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN WORLDLY SING-A-THON

Students at Western Branch Intermediate School went on a field trip to Tempe, Ariz., Thursday.

They and their friends from places like Kentucky, Connecticut, Kansas and Germany sang in the world's largest concert.

And they managed to do it without leaving the school gymnasium.

The event, which is sponsored by the Music Educators' National Conference, is dubbed ``The World's Largest Concert'' because school children from all over the world participate via satellite. The event is a highlight of Music In Our Schools Month.

``I think it's important that they're part of something worldwide, not just something their school does, not just something their family does, but something bigger,'' said music teacher Natalie Chenault, who orchestrated the school's participation in the concert beamed in live via the Public Broadcasting System from Arizona.

Chenault said she has taped the concert in the past and had the kids sing some of the songs along with it - but the experience fell short.

``Then they're not truly a part of it,'' Chenault said.

In preparation for the concert, the students began practicing the song ``Carriers of the Light'' in January.

What's more, the 750 students sat together with nary a behavior problem.

``This is the first time we've ever done that,'' confessed Andrew Thompson, a fifth-grader sporting blue and gold face paint in honor of both the concert's and the school's colors.

``I decided to be brave and have the whole thing in the gym,'' Chenault said.

``I thought it was really good. All the equipment worked, which is a major miracle.''

For fifth-grader Kathleen Snyder, seeing so many kids singing and playing music was a revelation.

``I thought it was really cool,'' said Kathleen, who plays the piano. ``I didn't know they were going to have as many kids. I thought it was going to be mostly adults (performing).''

For Andrew and fellow fifth-grader Rachel Shumacher, the concert was ``worth the wait'' but in some respects they were relieved when it was over. They said they were ready to move on to other tunes besides ``Carriers of the Light.''

``I`m singing it in my dreams,'' Andrew said.

Rachel and Andrew, who both play violin, said it was nice to see other musically inclined students from all over the country and the world.

``I thought it was real neat to see all the instruments,'' Rachel said.

Chenault said she wanted to be sure to include all of the school's students - regardless of musical ability - in the concert.

``Music is a life skill. There's not one day in our life that we don't hear music. All children need to experience and learn about it,'' Chenault said. ``All of my students won't become concert musicians; I know that. Some will. We have a lot of talent here, but I wanted every student that we could (at the concert). Bring them all in!'' ILLUSTRATION: MORT FRYMAN photos/The Virginian-Pilot

Students at Western Branch Intermediate School participate Thursday

in what is billed as ``The World's Largest Concert,'' via satellite

from Tempe, Ariz. Schools from around the world took part in the

event, a highlight of Music In Our Schools Month.

From left, Sonja Tillotson, Amanda Hancock and Jessica Bryant listen

as music and visuals from around the world are broadcast via

satellite to Western Branch Intermediate School on Thursday. The

750 students sang ``Carriers of the Light'' for their performance in

``The World's Largest Concert.''