Jazz Choir makes magic at Disneyland

On stage at Disneyland's Carnation Theater earlier this month, the 10 members of Sisters High School's Vocal Jazz Ensemble gave their strongest performance to date - but not before weathering some trying setbacks.

It was the second year in a row that the SHS Jazz Choir, under the direction of Michelle Summers, has received this highly coveted invitation. The Disney program also afforded the students the opportunity to train and record in a professional studio.

Beth Eckstine, Hayley Valoppi, Claire Kanzig, Ciara Affatati, Elle Meyer, Jared Nelson, Sean Tosello, Brandon Goodwin, Austin Erlandson and Grayson Gould worked to raise funds for the trip. They held a spaghetti feed and a car wash and rehearsed diligently.

But on the night before their scheduled performance, one of the boys got the stomach flu. The following morning, Summers learned by a text message that a total of four of the five male members of her group were too sick to perform.

According to Summers, the Disney staff "bent over backwards to accommodate us." The performance and workshop were rescheduled to the following day, which turned out to have some benefits. Under the new arrangement, the group learned that they would be tutored by esteemed musical director, producer and arranger, Brett Simmons.

All 10 members of the Sisters group took the stage at the Carnation Theater on Disneyland's Main Street, and unveiled their well-practiced repertoire. Jazzy classics including "Route 66," "Satin Doll," and "Fly Me To The Moon" entertained park patrons.

"It was our best performance of the year," reported Valoppi.

Next, Simmons coached the students in tackling two Disney songs, in four-part arrangement, within the span of 90 minutes.

"The kids were so focused, learning their parts rapidly as if they were professional studio musicians," said Summers.

After recording a first track, the singers overdubbed themselves so that it sounded like 20 singers rather than 10 on the final recording. Students then watched in awe as the two animated movie trailers - one from "Pocahontas" and one from "Mulan" - played on a big screen with their own voices overlaid.

The chance to train with Simmons was a gift for the students.

"Everything he says is gold and they just drank it up," said Summers.

Another highlight of the trip was an impromptu show on the streets of Disney's California Adventure. The students confidently joined a live a capella group, the Delta Daddy-O's, in singing the Billy Joel hit "For The Longest Time" for a large and appreciative crowd. At the end of the song, Erlandson publicly asked Valoppi to the prom.

Despite illness and uncertainty, the Sisters jazz students scored their highest achievement to date. Summers calls this particular group of singers her "strongest. They're also the most cohesive and well-behaved, and they look out for each other."

The community will have an opportunity to hear the 2010 Sisters Vocal Jazz Ensemble in their final

performance, during the All District Choir Concert at the Sisters High School auditorium on Tuesday, June 1, at 7 p.m. A special showing of the two animated Disney movie trailers, featuring the students' voices is planned.

Affatati, whose solo is featured on "Reflection" from Mulan, found the recording experience "really, really exciting. It was really cool to hear myself, but also really weird."