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Boston Pops High School Sing Off By Andrea Shea  Listen to story (Real Audio)
BOSTON, Mass - July 03, 2008 - TEXT OF STORY Music: "One More Day" This quintet is singing "One More Day" from "Les Miserables." The kids in it are from Quincy and Braintree but know each other from theater camp. Michael Ryan and Kirsten Shetler say they went into shock when they learned their group made it into the competition. RYAN: I think Brianna found out first and Kirsten was at work. SHETLER: I was but then Brianna came to me and was like, "we made it we made it!" so I called Adam. RYAN: Adam who was going out to eat (laughs) Um, it was funny. SHETLER: We were all like technology go go go! RYAN: And we were all freaking out it was really one of those funny things. SHEA: The high school students were so excited they say they danced through the streets of Boston singing music from the Broadway hit, "Spring Awakening." Ryan says he lives and breathes musical theater. RYAN: I mean sure I would love to be in New York some day you know, up on stage doing "Gypsy" singing "All I Need is the Girl" but just to be up an any stage performing is incredible. Incredible. It really is. HALLENBECK: I remember Mike when he was a Soprano. RYAN: Not any more (laughs). SHEA: Teacher Rachel Hallenbeck has known Michael Ryan since he played Christopher Columbus in third grade. She's the Director of Music for the town of Braintree and says opportunities for students to get up on stage at school are shrinking here in Massachusetts. HALLENBECK: In Braintree we've had some cutbacks but luckily we have our students in musical theater, and we put on these performances for the Veterans and for the Women's society and the Men's Society, and they see the value of our youth. SHEA: That's the point of the High School Sing-Off too, according to Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart. LOCKHART: I've always been a Broadway geek, some of my first memories of it were scraping together 20 bucks to go down to New York City from my home in Poughkeepsie when I was in high school to see shows. SHEA: Tuesday night's show at Symphony Hall featured performances from the three finalists, including Michael Ryan's quintet, Samara Oster from the Milton Academy and 16 year-old Katie Mayhew from Martha's Vineyard Regional High School. Music: 'Being Alive' sung by Katie Mayhew SHEA: All of the kids admitted to being nervous about playing to a sold-out house. After a short intermission Keith Lockhart announced the winner. Sound of Lockhart announement: Ladies and gentlemen the judges have reached a decision. The winner of the first ever Boston Pops High School Sing-Off , a Broadway Challenge, appearing with the Boston Pops on the Esplanade this 4th of July, from Martha's Vineyard, Katie Mayhew! SHEA: As soon as Katie Mayhew gets off stage the other contestants swarm around her. Then Katie Mayhew's mother shows up with flowers and a big hug. The teen is already dreaming of the bright lights of Broadway. MAYHEW: You know I'm not a city person but I'm figuring I'm going to start liking the city because New York is probably where I want to be. MAYHEW'S MOM: That's a big stretch for someone who grew up on Martha's Vineyard I?ll tell you. (laughs) SHEA: In his dressing room after the show Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart reflects on Mayhew's prospects. LOCKHART: Do I think she's going to get a Broadway contract as a result of this? No, she's a kid she's got to grow up first. Do I think that this is a wonderful chance to show who you are and what you can do even just to yourself, what that translates in is a heightened self-confidence, maybe a heightened focus, a heightened thought that gee this is something I can do? Yes, all of those things are possible. This is an amazing start for someone with stars in their eyes. SHEA: And tomorrow night the rising star will sing her heart out in front of millions.
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