April Poll is live!

The new April poll is live on the right sidebar, and allows you to vote on your favorite PS22 Chorus original! Make your vote an educated one by checking out all the nominees below...

PS22 Chorus Oscars Homecoming Celebration with Mayor Bloomberg & Friends

On Wednesday, March 23, one month after their triumphant return from their winning performance at the Oscars, members of the PS22 Chorus were honored by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro, Staten Island Advance editor Brian Laline, and several political leaders throughout the city, Principal Melissa Donath, their parents, and their fifth grade classmates! The kids were given plaques and certificates galore, and it was a proud and meaningful tribute to all those who worked so hard to make this dream come true. The kids performed several 4 songs including "Kids" by MGMT, "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, "Firework" by Katy Perry, and "True North" by Mr. B. Fantastic solos were performed by Azaria, Kurria, and Denise respectively, while our little drummer boy, Marquis, contributed his prodigious percussive skills! Check out highlights from the celebration below with footage filmed by our beloved Ms. Lisa!

As promised by Brian Laline during the ceremony, the event was indeed covered by the Staten Island Advance the next day. You can read their account of the festivities at SILive. The article also includes a fantastic photo gallery! And below you can see videos posted by the mayor and SILive, featuring higher quality audio from the and interviews.

In related news, the PS22 Chorus also received a very kind letter from NY State Governor Andrew Cuomo wishing the group luck just before its departure. Click on the image below to enlarge.

The PS22 Chorus thanks to all the dignitaries and press that showed up to honor the kids and celebrate their achievements! Also thanks to everyone out there who sent donations and kind words in the mail and online -- every penny and every word is so very much appreciated. Check out more pics of the event below, courtesy of Ms. Laurie!

PS22 sings at NY Yankees Homecoming Dinner

On Wednesday, the PS22 Chorus of 2011 performed at the NY Yankees Homecoming Dinner, celebrating the team's return to baseball. The chorus presented superb renditions of two of their most memorable songs, "Firework" by Katy Perry & "Imagine" by John Lennon! Before the performance the kids even got a brief visit from Derek Jeter & A-Rod!

MAJOR props to both Kurria & Azaria for some brilliant soloing! And big thanks to Ms. Lisa & Ms. Laurie for the video and pics!

Freelance Whales Crank PS22 Chorus's Generator!

Here is yet another amazing collaboration featuring the PS22 Chorus! Yesterday the kids were visited by the Freelance Whales, and it was a match made in musical heaven. What truly great musicians and unbelievably generous souls... We at PS22 are MOST impressed! Check out the two songs the kids performed with the band -- "Hannah" & "Generator (First Floor)!"

Thanks to Ms. Lisa & Ms. Laurie for the beautiful vids and pics that accompany the post, Mr. Eberle for his amazing guitar work, and of course, major props to Marquis, accompanying the band on the drums (and improvising his part no less)!! Biggest thanks of course go to Freelance Whales and their management for coming on down to PS22 and giving us all an unforgettable afternoon of music and good cheer! More pics below!

Walk Like An Egyptian

Probably my favorite song (and certainly my favorite group) during my high school years, here is a great rendition of the song made popular by the Bangles (written by Liam Sternberg), "Walk Like An Egyptian," the #1 hit from the eighties! Recently, after the PS22 Chorus performed at The Oscars, we got a beautiful e-mail from Susanna Hoffs praising the kids' performance. We dedicate this to her. And the song seems more timely than ever....

UPDATE: In addition to our amazing supporter Perez Hilton tweeting about our newest cover, Susanna Hoffs, singer and guitarist from the Bangles, e-mailed a beautiful message! Here are some excerpts:

"I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!"

"it's so incredible---you are brilliant, and the kids are magnificent"

".....you just made my year :)"

Little Dragon sets PS22 on fire!

Last month we got an e-mail from the manager of one of my favorite bands, Little Dragon, who noticed that we included the group as one of our favorite artists on our YouTube channel. He asked if he thought there was any way the PS22 of 2011 could host a visit from Little Dragon. Needless to say, we jumped at the opportunity! Things have been so busy at PS22 that I didn't even have time to prepare the kids with any of the group's music until yesterday, the day Little Dragon was set to arrive! But leave it to PS22 to make the magic happen, even when they're down to the 11th hour!! Check out two amazing performances and some behind-the-scenes footage from the band accompanied by the extraordinary children of the PS22 Chorus in beautiful harmony!

Big thanks to Little Dragon and their management for such an inspirational visit, and we're even more ecstatic to hear they left PS22 feeling equally inspired by our favorite fifth graders and their time at PS22! Last but certainly not least, big thanks to Ms. Lisa & Ms. Laurie for the beautiful vids and pics on this post! Check out more pics below!!

Posing....
Mohamed on hug patrol....
Ms. Lisa capturing the festivities.....
Yukimi Nagano
Erik Boden
PS22 Chorus & Little Dragon
Celebrating a job well done!

PS22 Chorus vs. Madison Square Garden! (Spoiler alert: PS22 wins!)

On Friday, the PS22 Chorus of 2011 brought the house down at Madison Square Garden, opening the NY Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens game with both the Canadian and American national anthems! The kids were in top form and brought the enthusiastic crowd into an almost unprecedented thunderous roar!! Check out the amazing performance below, as filmed by our wonderful Ms. Lisa!

The kids truly had a fantastic time at the Garden! Highlights?

1) Singing the anthems of course! You can check out pro-shot versions of both anthems below, courtesy of the Rangers website!

2) Watching the video the kids shot earlier that week for the Rangers (featuring team highlights set to PS22 Chorus's rendition of Eminem's "Not Afraid") on the jumbotron during intermission!

2) Meeting up again with our friend, former America's Next Top Model Finalist and current MSG personality, April Wilkner! The kids had a blast breaking out their Top Model poses with April, and April is just a spectacular and inspiring person!

3) Another definite highlight was meeting singer/actress Gloria Reuben, who specifically requested to meet the kids when she found it they were singing at the game! Gloria is truly an amazingly talented lady -- in addition to her role on ER, she is also a former backup singer for Tina Turner, so her praise truly did mean the world! As just reward for her kindness, she was treated to a superb a cappella rendition from Denise of an Aretha Franklin song we've been working on! (We "Think" you'll enjoy it.)

Thanks to Ms Laurie and again to Ms. Lisa for the beautiful pics you see on this post! More below!

The victory dance!
Posing!
The two Top Models, Jay-La & April!
Mr. B on his tippy-toes... (April still has to crouch down!)
Denise dazzles Gloria Reuben!
The PS22 Chorus kids chillin' out in their VIP suite!

The Star Spangled Banner 2011

Check out this stunning rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States, from the PS22 Chorus of 2011!

FEBRUARY 2011 POLL RESULTS

Sorry for the lateness of this post (we've been a little busy), but PS22 Chorus fans have spoken and your most anticipated PS22 Chorus Oscar moment was the kids singing Over The Rainbow!

The Guardian echoes Lady Gaga's Sentiments on PS22

A beautiful article written about the PS22 Chorus by Hermione Hoby for UK's prestigious publication, The Guardian.

O Canada

The PS22 Chorus of 2011 do a spot-on a cappella rendition of the Canadian national anthem, "O Canada" in preparation for their upcoming Madison Square Garden performance at the NY Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens game this Friday!

Thanks to Ms. Lisa for the beautiful HD filming!

Denise-fest!

Yesterday, the PS22 Chorus was hard at work for its upcoming March 18th Madison Square Garden performance of the Canadian and American national anthems at the upcoming NY Rangers game! We took a break from the necessary preparation involved to break out into a solo piano version of "True North" by Mr. B for our guest visitor from the UK's Guardian. The chorus was just breathtaking and Denise gave her best performance on this rendition. Also check out her amazing take on "Grenade" by Bruno Mars that we played around with at morning rehearsal.