Academy’s madrigal singers to perform at White House

By Kristen Peterson

Saturday, Dec. 11, 1999 | 8:45 a.m.

Las Vegas Academy of International Studies Performing and Visual Arts students will once again be decking White House halls with their voices.

The school, which sent a handful of students to the nation's capital in 1994 to perform at the opening press tour for White House Holiday Tours, will be sending 20 voices from its madrigal choir to perform at a reception Tuesday for senators and representatives.

The reception is to honor House members' work. The Academy Madrigals -- the only group performing at the reception -- has prepared 40 carols, including a variety of Hanukkah songs and traditional Christmas music, to sing during the two-hour performance.

"It's a prestigious event -- we're really excited about it," Elizabeth Kamerin, department chairwoman and director of the group, said.

Each student raised about $600 for the trip. They'll stay at the Marriott Hotel at Washington and return Wednesday in time for the dress rehearsal for the production of Handel's "Messiah" Thursday and Friday.

The students have been practicing since Nov. 5 for the White House event and are definitely prepared, Kamerin said. "These are really sharp kids. You just hand them a piece of music, and they take it and learn it. They're really ambitious."

Major television networks were on site for the White House Holiday Tour in 1994, and the school gained national media attention. The group was selected that year as one of 20 to 30 groups to perform during the holiday tours and were able to meet first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The academy is a magnet school that offers training in dance, theater, technical theater, vocal music, instrumental music, orchestra, visual arts and international studies. Students must have a 2.0 grade point average. All students in the district are eligible to audition.

The school, formed in 1993, already has a few feathers in its cap. Last year it was selected from 41,000 schools as a Grammy Signature School.

The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Inc., known for the Grammy Awards, has a program that honors music students, faculty and school districts that promote music education as a key part of the curriculum.

Ten of the best music programs receive the Gold Award, which provides a $5,000 grant toward music department budgets. Selection is based on audition materials and which schools provide the highest level of education out of available funds, Kamerin said.

The school has made the finals again this year and is once again up for the Gold Award.

"We've had a wonderful time building the (program)," Kamerin said. "The students have done outstanding work, and we really work hard to get them recognition.

"These kids are such neat kids. You want to give them the best."

After graduation many stay in Nevada, she said. Some students attend music schools such as Julliard School of Music in New York and the Boston Conservatory.

Academy choirs have toured Europe and Vancouver, and performed for Barbara Bush and with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Students from the high school were also featured last year in Seventeen magazine. The Fall/Winter 1998 edition features four of the "coolest schools in the coolest cities." Las Vegas Academy students covered eight pages. It was the second time the magazine featured the school.

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