Music Festival Will Feature Talents of PCHS Vocalists

What's the best part about taking the stage as a vocalist?

"Expressing yourself through what you're singing," said 15-year-old Dreymere Price of Port Chester High School.

Price, a sophomore, will perform at Purchase College next month along with four classmates, representing Port Chester at the Area All-State Music Festival.

When he's at home listening to music or queueing tunes on his mp3 player, Price says pop and R&B are his favorite genres.

But next week's music festival will call upon students to show a true range of vocal talent starting with a classical foundation.

In addition to solo and mixed chorus performances, the students will be asked to "sight sing" -- an on-the-spot feat involving eight to 10 measures of unfamiliar music. Students get a starting pitch and two or three minutes to practice before performing the piece, music teacher Linda Penney said.

Penney described the exercises as tests of "total musicianship," a way for the students to "show their vocal prowess at the solo level."

Along with Price, fellow altos Daniela Serrano and Sarah Dapaah will perform, along with sopranos Rosemarie Veltri and Kim Maguire.

"I'm thrilled for them," Penney said. "The program is going to be amazing."

The Area All-State Music Festival is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Purchase College's Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $25 each and are available through the college's box office. To order tickets or for more information, call 914-251-6200.

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