GOLDEN VOICE

GOLDEN VOICE INVITED TO PERFORM AT AMERICA'S 400TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

In the fall of 2006, Guerin’s Golden Voice received the incredible honor to represent the state of Indiana for the 400th Anniversary Celebration of the settlement of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the New World. Golden Voice joined 49 other state choirs to make a 1,607-person choir, and were accompanied by a 400-piece orchestra made up of groups from around the country. The performers ranged in age from six to 93.

The Golden Voice trip left Guerin about 11 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, 2007. After traveling through the night they arrived in Jamestown, Virginia Thursday afternoon. That afternoon the group visited Jamestown Island, the site of the original fort on the James River. The group toured this archaeological site where more than a million artifacts have been recovered. 

The next morning the group visited the Yorktown Battlefield, the site of the surrender of the British Army during the American Revolution. The rest of the day was spent at Busch Gardens before heading to William and Mary College for choir rehearsal. This was the first time all 1,607 singers had been brought together. On Saturday, Golden Voice had a morning and evening rehearsal. The group also had the opportunity to visit historic Williamsburg that day.

Although the day began about 4 a.m. for most students, Sunday was a wonderful day. The 1,607-member choir and 400-piece orchestra performed in the morning. In this performance, Golden Voice and the other choir and orchestra members performed for the President of the United States, George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. President Bush then addressed the crowd. Other distinguished guests for the performance included retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. Later in the day, Golden Voice gave a private performance on a separate stage for people visiting the park and celebration. In between performances the group toured the Jamestown Settlement, a recreation of the original settlement, including replicas of the three ships that brought the original settlers to Virginia. 

The evening culminated with a Grand Finale that brought the 1,607-member choir and 400-piece orchestra back on stage. The theme of the festivities centered on the rise of a new nation from the collision of three cultures: Native American, African and English. The music was enthralling! Guerin Catholic could not be more proud of our Golden Voice students.

“The commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown was a wonderful experience to re-live history,” said Leona Chianello, Guidance Office Assistant, who was a chaperone on the trip. “I only wish we could have had more time to visit more of the historical sites. I was very proud of our students, who throughout the entire busy trip - and filled with rehearsals - continued to be very good representatives of Guerin Catholic High School. And, the actual concert itself,with 1,600 voices from all over.