This was a story we at Buzz felt needed re-telling this week. It's a story about the choir at Southeastern High -- well, what used to be a choir. See, in his role as Emergency Financial Manager for Detroit Public Schools, Robert Bobb made cuts to the music program at Southeastern. Then, school administrators, hampered by increased constraints, were forced to cancel all the music courses at the high school -- laying off the accompanist and transferring the choral director to the Catherine Ferguson School. Cuts were also made to Southeastern's drama department and highly-touted robotics program.
With the Michigan State Vocal Music Association Choral Festival fast approaching, 20 of Southeastern High's finest voices found themselves caught out. No teacher. No pianist. No money.
So the singers decided to mobilize; staging three walk-outs and a sit-in (amidst rumors the kids were maced). And in a final show of protest, the Voices of Southeastern choral group gained entry to the MSVMA awards, demanding they be allowed to compete against functioning high school music programs around the state.
Excerpt:
McAllister said that violating MSVMA rules opens
the door for ratings to be declared unofficial. But, without any music
program to look forward to next year, Southeastern students weren't as
concerned about ratings. "All of us are very passionate about
what we do. For us being here now and doing what we love, it speaks for
itself," said junior choir member Nicole Smith.
"Our choir is in dismay because our teacher is gone,"
Lewis said at the choral festival. "She's telling us not to do it
because she doesn't want to be embarrassed. But that's not the point,
the point is to show that Southeastern can and will sing because we've
prepared for it all year."
Hear the whole story here.
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