Schools

Barrington Madrigals Sing at White House, Meet Newt Gingrich

Nineteen BHS students traveled to Washington DC last week to perform.

The Barrington High School Madrigals trip to Washington DC, last week, included a performance at the White House and an impromptu photo op with Newt Gingrich, according to Joanne Dalessandro, parent volunteer, chaperone and BHS Fine Arts board member.

The 19 students from BHS Madrigals traveled and performed at many venues around the Washington D.C. area. They were Alexa Argianas, Katherine Badskey, Ben Bruce, Dina Dalessandro, Rose DiGiulio, Michael Hyatt, Gabi King, Stephen Martino, Anna Mehringer, John Moran III, Stefani Moranski, Oliver Pringle, Silpa Raju, Andrea Schumann, John Shattuck, Elizabeth Stermer, Kayla Stearns, Michael Waldron and Tannah Wieneke.

 The group saw Newt Gingrich upon landing at Reagan in D.C. on Saturday.

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Madrigal Director Nancie Tobison and Dr. Tom Leonard, superintendent of Dist. 220, traveled with the group.

The Madrigals sang for three hours in the White House on Saturday night. It was a Xmas Open House where staff could invite a few guests to come and enjoy the beautiful rooms decorated in Christmas splendor.  

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The Madrigals have been performing and touring non stop and had a Capitol tour Monday morning and then to the Holocaust museum in the afternoon after a quick lunch in Union Station.

Sunday included singing at the Marriott Hotel and then on the metro to the Kennedy Performing Art Center for a private tour.  They sang alongside Santa on Sunday, Dec. 11 for a special brunch at the Kennedy Center where the Nutcracker was being performed afterward.  

The Madrigals sang at the National Tree at the Ellipse at the Pageant of Peace and then viewed all smaller trees from our 50 states.  They stopped at George Washington University in Foggy Bottom area and viewed a special holiday performance of the Andalusian Treasures and then broke out in song afterward out on the steps of the Lisner Auditorium.  

Dalessandro said the students are having an experience of their lifetime with these special opportunities.


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