“Art itself is an acceptance of anything. It’s about expressing who you are, and basically just having a good time,” Alyssa Del Rosario was pleased to say while reflecting on her passion for singing. Alyssa is a student at J.H. Picard, and a member of their growing Glee club.
On February 17, she shared her talent at the 2nd annual Heart of Glee event, hosted by the AISI Wellness Project*. That night, the Citadel Theatre was swarming with young performers running through nervous vocal exercises and final costume adjustments before the big show. The audience was just as eager.
The Heart of Glee event has been an excellent way for schools to collaborate and showcase their talented students as dancers, singers and musicians. Last year had a total of 5 schools performing. This year, that number has grown to 9. “It’s great, because we’re all singing with our friends and raising money at the same time,” says Gelisa Bulatao, a performer from Holy Family.
The audience sang along to classics such as Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing, and to modern hits such as Usher and David Guetta’s Without You, the song selections promoting the moral value of friendship and hope.
The event was an amazing success, raising $6,500 for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. We hope to see more enriching performances from these glee clubs, and admire their tremendous efforts in creating such a spectacular show!
*Catholic School Board initiative.