Twenty-five GCVI high school students will share the stage with rock band Foreigner on Sunday at Centre in the Square in Kitchener to sing the choir part of the band’s 1984 hit I Want To Know What Love Is.
The opportunity of singing in front of a sold out crowd at an arena rock show is something the kids will never forget, said Lane Osborne, choir director at GCVI.
“I think once they are on stage performing for that many people who are excited for them and cheering it will be a life changing experience,” said Osborne.
Although many kids today may not be aware of the 80s rockers, it just happens that GCVI put on a production of the musical Rock of Ages earlier this year, which features two songs by Foreigner.
“I am personally a big classic rock fan, so for me directing the music of it was awesome because it was just 23 songs of things that I love,” said Osborne.
Sunday’s show will be the second time on stage at Centre in the Square for Darcy Kirkup, a Grade 11 student at GCVI. She previously sang there as part of another choir during a pop showcase.
“I sort of know what it’s like, but it’s still nerve wracking,” said Kirkup.
She was also involved in the Rock of Ages production, where the students sang I’ve Been Waiting For A Girl Like You, as well as the song they will be performing Sunday — I Want To Know What Love Is.
The song hit number 1 in the U.S. and Canada.
Osborne said the kids are ready, but freaking themselves out a little bit.
“If anything, the butterflies are excitement. It’s not really nerves for them at this point, which is good,” she said. “It’s just a short four-bar phrase, but it’s a lot tougher than it seems.”
Osborne knew the band often invited local talent on stage for the number and contacted the band’s management about a date last summer at Casino Rama, but because it was licensed show the singers all had to be age 19 or older.
Then on one day earlier this year, fate kicked in.
“I was driving to work and listening to the radio and KFUN in Kitchener was advertising a contest to find a choir to sing with Foreigner and I was just like ‘this is meant to be,” said Osborne.
The choir got to work practising and students in GCVI’s film production course directed and edited a video for the entry, which was based loosely on the original 80s music video by the band.
“You kind of have to watch the original video first to get the idea,” said Osborne.
A huge Foreigner fan herself, Osborne said Sunday’s show is surely to be a career highlight.
“They said they will try to let us meet the band and take a picture and all of that stuff. I’m hoping that happens,” said Osborne.
To see the GCVI video entry, click the play button on the video below:
