While others are ringing in the New Year, Southfield High choir students will be busily packing for a trip to Washington, D.C.
The students are scheduled to sing at the Heritage Inauguration Festival, which takes place the day before the Inauguration for President-elect Barack Obama, the nation’s first non-white president.
Most of those traveling are members of the Madrigal
choir. Others are members of the Men’s and Women’s Choir.
The students are scheduled to leave on Jan. 16 and will miss three days of school for the historic event.
The Southfield choir students are invited to sing at the Heritage Inauguration Festival every four years when the festival is held, but usually they decline the invitation, said Choir Director Daryl Taylor. But this year Taylor knew she wanted to take the students. “I decided to accept this invitation because I knew this election was going to be historic,” said Taylor.
Madrigal choir member Cameron Jones, a junior, said, “I’m very excited about the trip because I get to be a part of a major historical event.”
Madrigal choir member Ashleigh James, a junior, said, “It’s a humbling experience. I feel blessed that out of so many choirs that could have performed, we’re going. This is something I can tell my kids and my grandkids. I can tell them I was a part of history.”
The Aretha Franklin connection
Soul singer Aretha Franklin in a recent radio interview with FM 98 WJLB mentioned that she wanted to sing with Southfield’s Madrigal choir at the Inauguration Festival and would like to donate money to make the choir trip possible, but at press time no check had arrived, according to Taylor.
The choir expressed mixed feelings about the potential donation from Franklin. Taylor said, “If she wanted to sing with us, it would take the spotlight off the students, and that’s what this is truly about.”
Madrigal choir member Sarita Crawford said she wasn’t sure about having Franklin sing with the choir but welcomes financial help from Franklin if the Queen of Soul chooses to donate to the trip costs.
“We are starting to be known as a good choir,” Crawford said. “I’m also very thankful that Ms. Franklin has considered donating money to us.”
The choir as a whole needs $34,000 for the trip to Washington, D.C.
Local TV anchor donates
Even though Franklin might have fallen through with her donation plans, another well-known Detroiter stepped up. WXYZ-TV news anchor Carolyn Clifford donated a hefty sum of money as the choir performed at Seldom Blues jazz restaurant and supper club in Detroit. She paid for the tuxedoes of the 12 male choir members going to Washington, D.C.
While at Seldom Blues, the choir received $1,600 in donations from the customers. Also, all the choir students and Talyor received a meal on the house at the elegant restaurant inside the Renaissance Center, overlooking the Detroit River and neighboring Canada’s skyline.
The choir has been using several methods to raise money. They have been selling chicken dinners, hosting parties and putting on concerts around town.
Taylor said that with or without Franklin’s financial support, Southfield High School’s choir students plan to have a live view of the action on Jan. 20 as others watch this historic presidential inauguration on television.