Jazz Choir travels to Newport

The Sisters High School jazz choir regularly share their talents with the residents of Sisters, but once a year they travel out of town for their annual trip to share their music with a new audience. This year the jazz choir took a four-day trip to Newport. The trip was chaperoned by director Rick Johnson and pianist Julie Cash.

Every year the jazz choir president and vice president plan a handful of trips which are then presented to the choir and voted upon in the first couple months of the school year. The rest of the year the jazz choir fundraises for the trip. Most of their money comes from seasonal "singing grams."

Jazz choir president Ross Grant explained, "The jazz choir takes one performing trip a year to expand our musical knowledge, to bond as a choir, and to have fun."

The trip, or "tour" as it is sometimes called, is a showcase of all the music the jazz choir has learned over the year. They perform at several scheduled venues, and spontaneously as they travel.

This year they performed at the Oceanview assisted living home, which was a highlight for many students.

"Afterward we got to roam and spend time talking with (the residents) for awhile," said Shea Krevi. "They were so appreciative. One lady even said we give them hope for the youth of today."

Another performing highlight was the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse Museum. The jazz choir performed there two years ago, and the museum was thrilled to have them back.

"They set up a stage and chairs for people to come and watch us perform. It was a full audience and the guests and staff were incredibly moved. The room, the sound, it was all awesome," said choir vice president Robert Merolla.

There is often some kind of special event planned like seeing a play or, in this case, whale-watching. It was a big hit.

"We had the whale-watching experience people dream of," said Merolla.

Krevi remembers that, "The whales came right up next to the boat, and these were 30- 45-foot fanimals. It was crazy!"

The greatest take-back from the trip is always the bonding experience. Julianna Pade said, "We all are a lot closer now and hang out more even though we're from different groups of people within the school."

The jazz choir gives students from across the high school the ability to connect through music. From this trip - and jazz choir as a whole - Krevi "learned to appreciate the way music can connect people."

As Merolla said, "Jazz choir is about opening up and connecting with your peers." This trip is a unique bonding experience that students always remember fondly.

"I don't think any of us are going to forget (the trip)," Grant said. "We got the chance to go to the beach for four days with some of our best friends. What more could we possibly want?"