WHS Choir Invited to Perform for 100th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Lincoln Memorial
The Washington High School Choir has been selected to perform for the 100th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. They will make the trip to Washington, D.C. March 24-28, 2022.
The Lincoln Memorial is a national memorial built to honor the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is on the western end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., across from the Washington Monument.
Washington High School will have a performance with choirs from across the country and then will have their own separate performance in front of another historic monument. The performances will be on Friday, March 25, and Saturday, March 26.
“This truly will be a once in a lifetime experience,” said WHS Vocal Music Director Jessie Patterson. “We are excited and humbled to have been chosen for this great honor.”
To help pay for the trip, the WHS Choir has held various fundraising events, including a BBQ tailgate event at a recent home varsity football game. They also are accepting donations to help with the expenses.
Click here to make a donation.
The WHS Choir was selected to perform from a committee through Historic Programs. The committee helps identify music programs around the country that have a tradition of music excellence. Schools are often added to the list based on state contest results, community involvement or events, and references from other music educators.
Historic Programs has produced events for over 30 years, and their list is an accumulation of great schools from every state. They then draw from this list in sending out invitations. This year, they selected only one choir and one band from each state to represent in the commemoration, meaning Washington High School is the only choir from Missouri that was selected.
“The event will provide students with a deeper appreciation of our 16th President, as well as the rich history of his memorial in our nation's capital,” stated Chris Meeker, a member of the Historic Programs Committee in the invitation sent to the Washington High School Choir program. “It is important that each state be represented in this commemoration, and we would love to have the Washington High School Choir represent Missouri. Congratulations on having an exceptional program and on receiving the invitation."
During their visit to Washington, D.C. on March 24-28, the WHS choir will have a full itinerary. They will have a number of tours around town, including the Washington by Night Guided Tour (Washington Monument, FDR Memorial, Einstein Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial, World War II Memorial, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial). They also will take guided tours of Arlington National Cemetery, Ford’s Theater, and the Smithsonian Museum.
Click here to make a donation to the Washington High School Choir to help fund their trip to Washington, D.C.
Pictured are members of the Washington High School Choir.
Washington High School Vocal Music Director Jessie Patterson, left, and Assistant Director/Accompanist Tony Pelsue display the invitation to participate in the 100th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Lincoln Memorial March 24-28 in Washington, D.C.