Behind The Music!!

Super exciting news!!  PS22 Chorus of 2012 is featured in the new VH1 Behind The Music: Carrie Underwood special that debuts tonight!  The show incorporates footage of the song "So Small," one of two songs she performed with the kids during her recent visit to PS22! The PS22 segment is an emotional closer to the episode! Make sure to catch it!

2 For 2 For 22 of '13!

Although the title of this post may sound like a sophisticated math equation our fifth graders may have to tackle when they're not singing their hearts out in the auditorium, it actually refers to the amazing accomplishments of our brand new PS22 Chorus of 2013!  In the ridiculously small amount of rehearsal time so far, the new batch of chorus members has put out two high quality performances, and today both of those performances received accolades from their respective songwriters via Twitter!   Today David Guetta tweeted how "really moved" he was by the kids' cover of "Titanium," and earlier today, Greg Holden (one of the co-writers of American Idol winner Phillip Phillips hit "Home") tweeted that after discovering PS22's cover of the song, he has been "crying his eyes out" watching PS22 Chorus videos!!    AND the "Home" performance was also featured on Phillip Phillips's official Facebook page!  Check out both amazing tweets and the Facebook post below!

Count DEON In!!

HUGE congratulations go out to yet another PS22 Chorus alumnus making a big name for himself!! Former 2004 member, Deon Mitchell, is making his national television debut tomorrow on Sesame Street singing the 1998 classic, "Count Me In" that will appear beginning tomorrow on PBS (and affiliated stations across the country -- check your local listings) on the new episode called "Me Am What Me Am"! Words cannot express how proud we are of this extraordinarily talented young man and this amazing accomplishment! We always knew Deon was bound for big things, but this is tremendous!!! Check out a preview of the performance below!!
 

 

Special props to our friends Stephanie & Adam at NELA Films, who filmed this AND the PS22 Chorus video that appeared on Sesame Street last year)!  We think they outdid themselves!  You can even see an alternate version of "Count Me In" on NELA's website!   Below you can find some classic PS22 performances of Deon back in 2004 and more recent performances he has done with the 2005, 2011 and 2012 choruses!!   Kick back, and watch the evolution of a super-star in the making!!
 

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Ashford & Simpson
"

I Will Always Be There For You" by Anquette

"Degrassi Theme" (w/ PS22 Chorus of 2005)



"Flying Dutchman" by Tori Amos


"So High" by John Legend (w/ PS22 Chorus of 2011)


"Someone Like You" by Adele (w/ Kiarah & PS22 Chorus of 2012)

PS22 Chorus of 2013 is right at HOME

The PS22 Chorus of 2013 delivers on its second song of the year -- "Home" by American Idol winner, Phillip Phillips! It's hard to believe that this new batch of fifth graders is only working together for two weeks now, but these kids are definitely showing that they are a force to be reckoned with!!

UPDATE (9-27-12):  The PS22 Chorus got a fantastic review for its cover of "Home" from the popular entertainment site, Wetpaint!  Check out the screencap below!

PS22 Chorus of 2013 Auditions!

Meet only some of the new talent and personality the PS22 Chorus of 2013 offers up.... It's going to be quite a year!!

C.J. sings "Can You Stand The Rain" by New Edition
Serenity sings "Stay" by Miley Cyrus
Christopher sings "Set Fire To The Rain" by Adele
Matthew sings "Grenade" by Bruno Mars
Jenesis sings "Rolling in the Deep" and "Someone Like You" by Adele
Alicea sings "Someone Like You" by Adele
Tia sings "Jesus Take The Wheel" by Carrie Underwood
Ryan sings "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" by Michael Jackson / Akon

TiTaNiuM (Updated!)

And so it begins.... Here is the all-new PS22 Chorus of 2013, less than only a week and a half into the new school year and already sounding like seasoned professionals!! Equipped with fresh new voices and a sharp new look, the chorus makes this an absolutely brilliant debut!! And soloist Alicea knocks it way out of the park!! Definitely did not expect this crew to be making its debut so early on, but these kids seem eager to carry on the tradition of greatness one has come to expect from PS22's fifth graders!! It's going to be quite a year....

 

UPDATE (9-20-12): Thanks to our amazing friend Perez Hilton for bestowing fantastic praise for the new 2013 crew's cover of "Titanium" today on his blog!
 

New Year, New Kids, New Look!

To celebrate the brand new school year and the coming debut of the all-new PS22 Chorus of 2013, the blog was given an epic makeover! We're really excited about the new look, the new shirts (special shout out to Ms. Lisa for selecting the colors), and, most especially, to introduce the new crop of fifth graders (pictured above) whose first video will be premiered tomorrow!! It's truly amazing how polished this crew sounds already with only a little over a week into the school year!  These kids are ready to raise the bar of excellence already established in years past! So get ready...  The torch is officially passed, and PS22 Chorus of 2013 is set to hit the ground singing!!

PS22 Chorus's Got Talent!

On Thursday night, former members of the PS22 Chorus of 2012 reunited to take the stage at the finale of America's Got Talent! As previously announced, the kids took the stage with sand-storyteller finalist Joe Castillo and performed a beautiful and unique version of "Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga! The kids tore it up and Joe rocked, and the performance received a rousing and well-deserved ovation from the audience! The PS22 alumni even got to mingle with several of the contestants and fellow guest performer (AND friend to the chorus), Ne-Yo! You can check out the amazing live performance the kids gave and an extremely cool behind-the-scenes video with Joe from rehearsal below!

with Ne-Yo!!

with one of the human contingent of the winning act!

with the incredible William Close!

with The Untouchables!

Former PS22 Chorus Members on America's Got Talent!!

Tonight a special group of our former PS22 Chorus members will be performing "Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga with sand artist Joe Castillo on the finale of America's Got Talent!!   Ummm, need we say that YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS?!?!  Check out the original PS22 Chorus video below that inspired the performance, and some more pics from Tuesday's rehearsal below!
 

 

PS22 Chorus Invited To Sing At 2013 Presidential Inauguration!!

On Monday, United States Senator Chuck Schumer tweeted one of the most astounding invitations in PS22 Chorus history!! The new 2013 chorus, which has yet to even see its online debut (coming VERY soon, we promise, and well worth the wait!!), has been asked to perform at the upcoming presidential inauguration ceremony this coming January! Check out the article that appeared in yesterday's Staten Island Advance detailing this incredible invite, and stay tuned for new developments right here on the blog, as well as on our Twitter and Facebook pages....

PS22 Chorus is "Like Air"

 Pic taken on the last day of school

Tomorrow marks the beginning of another brand new school year for the PS22 Chorus complete with 65 new fifth-grade faces and voices. So it's finally time to surrender to "goodbye" to the 2012 group. We bring to you now reflections of an unforgettable year in a special retrospective video we call, "Like Air," named for a quote from chorus member Jessalyn.  In addition to  wise-beyond-their-years insight from the kids, the video features a soundtrack of professionally recorded versions of some of the group's most beloved selections from a live recording session the group did at Converse Rubber Tracks Studio in Brooklyn.  Songs include "Brother & Sister" written by soloist Kiarah, "Live Your Life" by Yuna, and  "One And Only" by Adele. Kiarah also performs a lovely a cappella version of "I Believe" by Yolanda Adams!  Check out the video below!
 

 

What an impact these kids have made on us all this year! It hurts to see them go, but we know they will continue to do us proud....  To properly send the kids off, we've included on this post some never-before-seen pics from the 2012 PS22 graduation!  Carpe diem, PS22 Chorus of 2012!
 

Ah-meen rocks da house!

 

Daniel-san having a freak-out!

 

The "One & Only" 2012 Chorus!

 

Imani & Michael!

 

Chorus member Kaitlynn gives her valedictorian speech!  

 

Some of the music award recipients!

 

Zyasia duly proud of her award!

 

Noemi gets a congratulatory hug from Ms. Lisa!

 

Beautiful Jessalyn!

 

Mr. B with his 'bestie' Jalen!

 

The Mamas & Papa of PS22 Chorus -- Ms. Lisa, Mr. B, & Ms. Laurie!

New additions....

Just added two new videos to a couple of our 2012 blog posts! The first is a new version of "Live Your Life" performed with Yuna during her recent visit, and the second is an incredible live version of "Edge Of Glory" by Lady Gaga from the soundcheck of the New Yorker For New York Gala! You can see the new videos below and on both of the respective posts.

Gym Class Heroes Interview Praising PS22 Chorus!

The PS22 Chorus received from wonderful words from Gym Class Heroes in this recent video interview with Travie McCoy and Matt McGinley! It's an incredibly gratifying honor to hear that the chorus inspires those whom inspire us. Check out the story behind the interview here and watch the video below!