This past weekend, 12 choir students from the high school performed at Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra during their “A Night At The Oscars” Pops Concert. There were among 61 students performing as the Hamlisch-Page Student Choir.

These vocalists, balancing the life of being a student and other extra-curricular activities, have been practicing vigorously the past month on Sundays at West Minster Presbyterian Church;

“Let’s say it was a victory royale,” said senior Brian Pauley about balancing other activities and the Hamlisch-Page Choir. “It was a nightmare to balance everything else that is going on in my life and the choir, but overall it was a great experience.”

After a lot of practice, the students headed to Heinz Hall last Wednesday night to start practice with the conductor Jack Everly, who is not the Symphony’s usual conductor but rather a guest conductor for the Pittsburgh Symphony’s current conductor Manfred Honeck. The students took the stage that night just with the conductor, and the next night, they practiced with the actual orchestra.

Abby Kauric, one of the students that participated in the choir from Bethel Park, said: “I got chills as soon as I stepped onstage. It was surreal experience, singing with such talented musicians. I really enjoyed working with Maestro Everly. It was such a unique performance and it is not every day you get to sing with the Pittsburgh Symphony.”

The performances this past weekend were Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and included popular songs from the movies “Titanic,” “The Lord of the Rings” and “Star Wars.” There were other songs from movies that people did not recognize. Some of the songs the students performed with the symphony and some the symphony performed by themselves.

“I loved it. Anytime the choir came in during the ‘Titanic’ suite, I got chills. It was so good,” fellow staff writer Regan Gray said about the performance she attended Saturday night.

Next year, if anyone is interested, see Mr. K in the choir room to see if Bethel Park is participating in the choir again because it is a great experience for everyone to enjoy.