Ford City High Chorus Holds “Haiti Benefit Concert”

Choir Director Joshua Meyer conducts as the Ford City High Chorus sings Harriet Tubman by Walter Robinson and arranged by Kathleen McGuire.

 by Nathan Lasher

Last night at 7PM, the Senior High Choir, including members of the County Chorus, Junior County Chorus, and soloists raised their voices for a good cause during a “Haiti Benefit Concert.”

Megan Hecker sings Lay All Your Love on Me from the musical Mama Mia.

“This is a little benefit concert. This wasn’t my idea. A few kids came to me, I tossed the ideas to my officers, and to the whole chorus, and they thought it would be a good thing to do a benefit concert tonight,” said Director of Senior Level Choirs Joshua Meyer. “We had a lot of soloists left over from a solo concert that we were going to do, but that didn’t materialize. So, this was a perfect opportunity to show them and to show what pieces we have thus far prepared for chorus. Tonight we are asking for donations if you are willing to do that.”

According to Meyer, the donations that were collected last night, from approximately 135 audience members, will be going to a charity called Heaven’s Family.

Kary Claypool performs a song she composed herself entitled Give Me Another Try.

“I suggested it just because it’s got a local connection,” he said. “A former minister from Ford City is actually involved in that charity, so I thought that might be a good one to donate for. The money will be directed to Haiti; especially their disaster relief program. Chuck King, who is actually the local person involved with that charity, his specialization is the safe water fund which basically gets rudimentary Brita or Pur water filters to these tough areas. Haiti needs a lot of help, and this is a start. I know we are a little late to the party in a way. I gave a donation a month ago, and we’re a little behind, but I was glad we picked a late date because we missed a little school lately, and it was nice to have that extra rehearsal time.”

Troy Davis performs the song Come Home by One Republic.

Soloists for the concert included Morgan Iseman, Leslie Shaeffer, Megan Hecker, Kary Claypool, Troy Davis, Megan McAfoose, Anna Oberneder, Sheryl Wright, Brittany Byrd, Karissa Waldenville, and Alicia Tripp.

There was no charge for admission to the hour-long concert, and donations for Haiti were accepted at the door before and after the program.

Megan McAfoose performs the song Knocking on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan.