What is ‘Vocal Support’
Concert Beneficiaries
March 27th, 2010 Concert Info
2010 Ticket order form
2010 Vocal Support Poster
Vocal Support 2009 & SCI Boston

For many years, the two NHS student-led a cappella groups ‘Treble Rebels’ and ‘Subway Dwarves’ have successfully practiced their singing after school hours and performed at many Needham High School and other community events, including participation in the A Cappella Go concert, hosted yearly in November by the Needham Creative Arts Council. At the end of the A Cappella Go concert in November 2008, however, the student singers, spearheaded by Jeremy Aines (NHS ’09), decided to reach for more: They wanted to establish a Spring event, focused on a cappella singing at the high school and college levels and beyond, and on raising money for a good cause. Thus, the ‘Vocal Support’ concert was conceived.

In April of 2009, at the inaugural event, the concert raised $ 3,000 for the Spinal Cord Injury Association, Greater Boston Chapter, and a great time was had by the audience crowded into the auditorium on a very rainy night!!! In addition to the high school groups, the concert featured two college groups (Skidmore Dynamics and NYU N’Harmonics), as well as the professional Boston group ‘Firedrill!’

With the recent addition of a third a cappella group at Needham High School, Fermata Nowhere, this event promises to showcase the entire a cappella specter of the Needham High School, along with great examples of college and professional a cappella groups.

This event is sponsored by the NHS PTC, and we thank the PTC board for their support. We also thank Dr. Neves, director of Fine and Performing Arts, as well as the NHS Friends of Music, for their organizational support.

Come join the Needham community and enjoy the original human instrument for a good cause!

What organization is benefitting from this year’s concert proceeds?

Housing Families Inc. (HFI) works to end family homelessness all over the Greater Boston area. They do this by providing safe, temporary shelter, creating affordable housing, and offering individualized supportive services to family members of all ages. They respect each family in its journey toward greater security and stability.

In addition, the concert features a collection of items needed by the Needham organization Circle of Hope Inc., which services people in need in the Greater Boston area. Collection bins will be available in the auditorium lobby for the audience to drop off new, packaged underwear, socks and onesies, much needed by Boston area homeless families.

When is this year’s event, and what about tickets?

This year’s concert will be held at the Needham High School Auditorium on Saturday night, March 27th 2010. The concert starts at 7:30 pm, and the auditorium doors open at 7:00 pm. Ticket Sales and Will Call will start at 6:45 pm.

Tickets are $ 12 for students and seniors, $ 15 for adults. Additional donations to Housing Families Inc. are gratefully accepted and acknowledged with a receipt for tax purposes.

We are expecting a sold out performance and encourage everyone to get their tickets early. The performance is recommended for students ages 8 and up. Please click here to print the ticket order form.

Who is singing in this year’s event?

Please click on link to poster to see list of performers:

As usual, we are fortunate to have the artistic support of high-quality college and professional groups. In addition to the three NHS a cappella groups, this year’s concert features the Duke’s Men of Yale University, a.k.a. ‘DaDoox’, as well as NYC pro group Duwende

Why did ‘Vocal Support’ 2009 support the Spinal Cord Injury Association?

The Spinal Cord Injury Association, Greater Boston Chapter (http://www.sciboston.org), was chosen as the benefitting organization in support of two Needham High School alumni, both wheelchair users:

Zack Weinstein, NHS ’04, was a fully mobile singer and dancer until a low water accident in the summer of 2005 caused a severe spinal cord injury. Zack, a Theater major that graduated from Skidmore College in the spring of 2009, sang with the a cappella group The Skidmore Dynamics, and continues to impress the world with how he is handling his transition to living with a spinal cord injury. Encouraged by the rehabilitation results of the late Christopher Reeve, Zack hopes that further research will enable the healing of spinal cord injuries in the future, and has experienced first-hand the value of support services for spinal injury patients.
Meet Zack

Anderson Wise, NHS ’02, was born with spina bifida, which typically impairs the function of the spinal cord below the waist. As a result, most spina bifida patients use a wheel chair for mobility, as does Andy. Adopted as a baby by Needhamites Sally & Dale Wise, Andy credits his parents, as well as the many Foster Care children that they have cared for over the years, with showing him that everyone can overcome their issues. Andy leads a full life as a college student and a paralympic power lifter, and wishes to support research into spina bifida preventability and treatment, as well as support services for spina bifida patients.
Meet Andy

Questions?

For questions, please feel free to email Vocal Support chair and concert organizer Sannie Rejndrup at rejndrup@rcn.com.