Help Send a Real-Life "Glee Club" to Nationals #MIOSM

For those who have watched Glee, you've seen how apparently simple it is for the group to pass through Sectionals, Regionals and on to Nationals without a hitch. The truth is every step toward Nationals is extremely difficult.

With the television show, Glee, the choir magically makes it to nationals after only two years in existence. The James Logan High School Advanced Concert Choir began at JLHS in 2000 under the direction of Erin McShane. Fifteen years later, still under her direction, they have advanced to the National Competition in New York. This speaks to the degree of difficulty in competition, rather than the quality of this choir. Consider, for example, the JLHS Advanced Concert Choir placed ninth at the state competition in May of 2014, the first time they ever competed at that level. And, in 2013, the same choir received a gold rating (combined score of 90 or higher) at the Anaheim Heritage Music Festival.

And one final difference, the TV show's group, at most, has about twenty members. The JLHS Advanced Concert Choir started with 20 members and now has 90!

Before I continue, I invite you to take a look at some of their performances:

JLHS Advanced Concert Choir at the Winter Concert, 2014 

Across the Vast, Eternal Sky 

Erin McShane, Director

JLHS Advanced Concert Choir, 2013 

The Ground

Erin McShane, Director

JLHS Advanced Concert Choir at the Capitol Music Festival, 2009 

Sicut Cervus 

Erin McShane, Director

So, now as they're perfecting notes and gargling with lemon, could you participate in their efforts by donating to their trip? Of James Logan High School in general, almost 50% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch. That is the average for most districts with the same enrollment numbers throughout California.

What better time than now, during Music In Our Schools Month, to help this one choir continue its success at James Logan High School? The teacher/director, Erin McShane can only do what she does based on the funding she receives from the district and the community. You can make your donation at their GoFundMe site.

The Advanced Choir competes in New York later this spring.