Boston Arts Academy Spirituals Ensemble wins Sing That Thing!
High school group wins WGBH’s new local choral competition
BOSTON, Mass. (Embargoed until May 22, 2015) – WGBH’s Sing That Thing! named the Boston Arts Academy Spirituals Ensemble the overall Season One winner at the taping of the finale on May 4. The episode will air Friday, May 22 at 8pm on WGBH 2. Sing That Thing! is the public broadcaster’s newest local series showcasing New England’s best amateur singing groups in a friendly competition that celebrates the diversity and joy of song.
“Congratulations to the singers of the Boston Arts Academy Spirituals Ensemble and to all of the groups who participated in Sing That Thing!,” said co-executive producer Patricia Alvarado Nuñez. “With this new production, WGBH continues a strong tradition of supporting the arts community. We’re proud to showcase the powerful voices and passion of local singers.”
Founded in 2009, the Boston Arts Academy Spirituals Ensemble focuses on the music of the African diaspora, including African-American spirituals. Directed by Tyrone Sutton, Boston Arts Academy Spirituals Ensemble’s talented high school students perform all around Boston and at major civic events.
Boston Arts Academy Spirituals Ensemble was also the winner in the high school category. The other category winners were MIT’s Syncopasian for college group, Fermata Town for small adult group and Merrimack Valley Chorus for large adult group.
The four category winners of Sing That Thing! will perform on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26 at the third annual Boston Summer Arts Weekend (BSAW) in Copley Square. WGBH and The Boston Globe present BSAW in partnership with Citizen’s Bank.
Twenty-three amateur singing groups from across southern New England, including nine high school groups, six collegiate choirs and nine community choruses, were selected from a field of more than 50 groups to perform during the inaugural season of Sing That Thing!. The series, hosted by Boston Children’s Chorus artistic director Anthony Trecek-King, premiered on WGBH 2 in April.
An esteemed trio of coaches – Jane Eaglen, Larry Watson and Jared Bowen – mentored the groups and determined which ones advanced to the special finale concert. Eaglen is an internationally-renowned opera singer and instructor at the New England Conservatory. Watson, an educator, lyricist and civil rights activist, is a professor in the Berklee College of Music ensemble department. Bowen, WGBH News’ executive arts editor, hosts WGBH 2’s Open Studio with Jared Bowen, Boston television’s only local arts series.
Sing That Thing airs Fridays at 8pm on WGBH 2 with weekend repeats on WGBH 2 and WGBX 44. More information on the series can be found at singthatthing.org, on Facebook and on Twitter.
Credit for attached photos: WGBH/Patricia Alvarado Nuñez.
About WGBH
WGBH Boston is America’s preeminent public broadcaster and the largest producer of PBS content for TV and the Web. Television channels include WGBH 2, WGBX 44, and the digital channels World and Create. WGBH Radio serves listeners across New England with 89.7 WGBH Boston’s Local NPR®; 99.5 WCRB; and WCAI, the Cape and Islands NPR® Station. Find more information at wgbh.org.
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