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GESP variety show hosts array of talent to benefit graduating seniors
The Special Choir's director, Sung Yi-Dokgo, has been teaching the Special Choir for eight years. Photo by Kelsey Haasch
Written by Abbey Willman - Staff Writer
To help provide graduating seniors with scholarships, the Gilbert Educational Support Professionals sponsored a variety show on February 5 in the Campo Verde High School auditorium. Dave Allison, Superintendent of Gilbert Public Schools, kicked off the night with a welcoming and some teasing remarks at a few of the performers. He also got more than a few laughs when making a sarcastic comment about having increased budget updates. The Mesquite High School Strolling Strings performed immediately after, followed by the real treat of the night; the MHS Special Choir.
The Special Choir gives students in the special education program a chance to sing for audiences in yearly concerts. Sung Yi-Dokgo, the director of the choir, has been teaching the Special Choir for eight years, but has been teaching special education for 20 years total. “Our kids never really got a chance to perform before,” Yi-Dokgo says. “They love it.” This was obvious, as the kids performed “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!” and “Amazing Things,” with expressions of pure happiness. Even though they were shaking with energy, the kids were focused and sang throughout both songs. Sherrie Rivetto, Administrative Assistant of Health Services, who proposed the idea of the variety show to GESP, says that “They brought the house down.” The performance was heart-warming, and seeing the kids elated at the audience’s reaction was also a joy to watch.
After the Special Choir, Assistant Superintendent Clyde Dangerfield, who Allison poked fun at by calling him “Clyde and the Singing Eyebrows,” performed a professional sounding “Country Roads,” receiving positive acknowledgment from the audience with his warbling country voice. Desert Ridge High School’s Pulse Dance Co. then ended the first half of the show with an entertaining dance done to “Hot Like Wow” by Nadia Oh. The second half of the night began with a goofy vogue dance included a male teacher dressed in a matronly dress and wig. This act added just the right touch of silliness to the otherwise professionally-done night. A drum solo by Gilbert Classical Academy teacher, Kevin Dorcy, followed, with a light and airy flute trio afterward that complemented the intensity of the drum solo. The whole night continued like this, with juxtaposition of every performance that followed. From the unexpected hilarity in Director of Health Services Lorie Miller’s stand-up comedy routine, to the breathtakingly in-sync MHS snare line performance, the night unfolded to an unexpected array of talents in teachers and students alike in GPS.
The night ended with a stand-up comedy routine by former district employee, Isaac Farm. He was not only hilarious, but also ended up having an impressive singing voice when he belted out in song at the end of his performance.
When 2nd grade teacher Leonard Martin performed a vocal solo of “If It’s Magic”, the audience was reminded of the purpose of the night.
“A mind is a terrible thing to waste”, Martin says, quoting the United Negro College Fund, “And I believe that with everybody.” By putting on the variety show, GESP is doing everything in it’s power to make sure this doesn’t happen. Every year, it tries to give $300-$500 to each high school for their scholarship fund. This show did so well financially that enough money was raised to give one student from each GPS high school a scholarship if he/she qualified for it. A night is also a terrible thing to waste, and fortunately the GESP Variety Show was not a waste of time.
March 12th, 2010 at 8:52 am
Thank you so much for the wonderful words about the Mesquite Special Choir. Our students really loved the positive feedback! I am wondering if you have any additional pictures of Special Choir from the Variety Show that we can use during a slide show presentation at our upcoming Spring concert? Please email me and let me know and we could even swing by and pick them up! Thanks! Candy Spearow/Mesquite High School 480-632-4750 X2120