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Jet, July 19, 1999

Washington Academy of Music in East Orange, NJ, recently won top honors at the national Musicfest '99 Orlando held at Walt Disney World in Florida.

The school won first place in Concert Choir competition, first place in Chamber Choir and also received the Grand Champion Award.

The school's Advanced Chorus, which consists of 52 youngsters in 7th and 8th grade, won the Concert Choir award. They sang the classical tunes Lift Thine Eyes from the oratorio Elijah by Mendelssohn and Exsultate Jubilate by Mozart.

The Vocal Training Ensemble-22 youngsters enrolled in 7th and 8th grade-won the Chamber Choir Award and sang Alleluia by Mozart and Hallelujah by Handel.

The students were supported by school principal, Brenda Veale, and were able to travel to Florida thanks to two $10,000 donations from the City of East Orange and the East Orange Board of Education each.

Jean L. James, vocal music teacher and choir director, said the students' awards prove "that you can do anything that you put your mind to do. I tell them this all the time. Nothing is impossible. Set your goals high and you will be able to do anything."