PS22 Chorus Is Shut Down?!

UPDATE: Glamour Magazine's website posted this video with very kind words about the chorus!

Edge of Glory!

After posting the outrageous version of Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory" the PS22 Chorus of 2012 did with Ithacappella last week, we thought we'd share our original vision of the arrangement before our favorite fifth graders mixed it up with their college buds. Let's hear it for Daniel-san on the drums, Kiarah on the solo, and Ms. Lisa on the camera!

40 MILLION VIEWS ON YOUTUBE!!

Today the PS22 Chorus celebrates reaching 40,000,000 video views on its YouTube channel! Just crazy!! 'Nuff said!

I'll Keep It With Mine

Here's a song we started preparing at Friday's rehearsal to record this upcoming Tuesday, but the kids made such quick and excellent work of it, we decided to jump the gun and debut it this weekend! Here is the classic song "I'll Keep It With Mine" by Bob Dylan, covered by the extraordinary Nico and also notably by my childhood idol, Susanna Hoffs (from The Bangles, whom the PS22 Chorus was fortunate enough to perform with at the Tribeca Film Festival this past April). This version owes a lot to all three renditions obviously, but most notably the Hoffs rendition, as that was the one that introduced me to the song back in high school. Thanks to Ms. Laurie for doing such a great job filming her first official PS22 Chorus video!

PS22 Chorus & Ithacappella 2012

Today the PS22 Chorus had its annual get-together with our college buddies, Ithacappella (the a cappella men's choir from Ithaca College), and I think it's safe to say that this year's was our best collaboration with the boys to date! The kids turned out 3 amazing numbers with their college counterparts, and every song was golden!

We started off with a brilliant take on "Edge of Glory" by PS22 Chorus fan Lady Gaga! (Also featured on Ithacappella's bridge is a medley of "Take On Me" by A-ha, "Someone Like You" by Adele, and "Firework" by Katy Perry!) Props to Kiarah for contributing her beautiful talent on the solo parts!

Here are the kids joining in (without any previous practice I should add) to Ithacappella's version of "Stereo Hearts" by Gym Class Heroes ft. Adam Levine from Maroon 5!!

And finally, here is the last video from our amazing day with Ithacappella! Here is "Someone Like You" by Adele!

UPDATE (1-12-12): Awesome review from New York Magazine & VH1's Best Week Ever praising the "Edge of Glory" cover!

UPDATE 1-13-12: "Edge of Glory" was featured and praised as "simply outstanding" on HelloGiggles.com, the popular entertainment sight founded by actress/musician Zooey Deschanel, producer Sophia Rossi, and internet sensation, Molly McAleer!

What The Water Gave Me

PS22 Chorus of 2012 are back with a vengeance with this amazing cover of "What The Water Gave Me" by Florence & The Machine! (Florence was a fellow performer at this year's Academy Awards ceremony at which the PS22 Chorus gave its history-making performance of "Over The Rainbow!") The kids sound magnificent, and Thoryn, a Grade A individual with regard to both her sound and spirit, suits the song perfectly! MAJOR props go to her for such a passionate performance on her first solo!

UPDATE (1-8-12): Florence Welch tweeted to PS22 Chorus to acknowledge Thoryn and the kids for their performance of "What The Water Gave Me!" Check it out below!

Grenade

Kevin and Kahlil put together their own version of "Grenade" by Bruno Mars, so we brought Daniel-san in on bongos and put the chorus on backup duty to get this great (and unintentionally amusing) spontaneous version of the mega-hit!

DECEMBER 2011 POLL RESULTS!

The fans have spoken, and your favorite V V Brown / PS22 Chorus performance is "Children!"

Don't to forget to vote on our new January poll which asks for your favorite performance from our recent collaboration with 30 Seconds To Mars! Check out all the nominated videos on our 30 Seconds To Mars post!

Sinead O'Connor & Travie McCoy Are PS22 Fans!

PS22 Chorus can add Travie McCoy and Sinead O'Connor to the roster of its impressive celebrity fan club! Today, Sinead posted on her website:

"oh and do watch PS22 Chorus doing my song Jackie... Most beautiful, joyous thing I seen apart from me own children. Watch for kid going wild with excitement at end. SO wanna meet that kid one day. All of them. Anyone know how to get in touch with their teacher or school?"

Thrilled to hear this kind of praise from an artist whose brilliant music and talent have been a huge source of inspiration! Also wonderful to see an amazing tweet from Travie McCoy (most famous for his song "Billionaire"), who aside from his incredible solo career also acts as the lead singer of Gym Class Heroes! The PS22 Chorus recently covered the group's new song, "The Fighter!" Check out what Travie had to say below:

Happy New Year from the PS22 Chorus of 2012!

Check out this incredible newly posted video of an acoustic piano performance of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" with some incredible bonus footage from our 2011 journey to Hollywood! It was an unbelievable 2011 for PS22 Chorus and we look forward to another amazing year! We wish all of our students, families, friends, and fans a brilliant 2012!!

Divina's Farewell Performance

On Friday, the PS22 Chorus of 2012 gave its final performance of our 2011 Winter Concert to the second grade classes and some of the big-wigs from the NYC Dept. of Education. In the audience was Divina's Mini-me, Emma, so we called her up to join her sister on "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" by Arrows (covered famously by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.) It was an adorable moment that we felt compelled to film and post.... Afterwards at rehearsal, we had the sad task of bidding Divina farewell and good luck as Friday marked her final day at PS22. It was an emotional goodbye, but hopefully one that will serve as a reminder to this incredible young lady of the unforgettable impact she has had on ALL of us.

PS22 Chorus Winter Concert 2011!

On Wednesday evening, December 21, 2011, PS22 Chorus of 2012 gave a stunning performance, one amazing song after another, at PS22's 12th Annual Winter Concert! Our fourth and fifth grade groups both gave simply electric performances that brought in the holiday season the best way possible! Below are only some of the incredible highlights!

Thanks to Ms. Lisa for filming and to Victor Breinberg for the fantastic pics on the post! Also huge thanks go to incredible PS22 Chorus alumni, Allie, Deon, and Clive for contributing their respective talents to make this truly an unforgettable night for all in attendance! In addition, we are very grateful to Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff for taking the time to come down and be a part of the festivities, as well as Jonathan Kalafer, the documentary filmmaker who filmed the upcoming PS22 Chorus documentary, tentatively titled, "Once In A Lullaby."

Craig Hatkoff bows to Daniel-san

Jonathan Kalafer bows to Daniel-san