By Austin C.
The Family Foundation School’s chorus participated in the recording of a special television program produced by Tim Janis, composer and leader of the Tim Janis Ensemble, which aired March 1 on the PBS station in the Albany-Troy area.
Janis produced the program entitled “Celebrate America” to keep spreading music around the world and to promote music programs in schools.
Janis sent chorus director Paul Geer the sheet music for a song he originally wrote and composed named “Heart of America.”
The whole chorus got to participate in singing the song, with a solo from December graduate Eric G.
The chorus went to WMHT Studios in Troy, N.Y. on the day of recording.
When they met Janis in the studio, he explained that he wrote the song for a young man from a small town in the U.S. who died fighting in Afghanistan. After hearing this, Geer told him about Justin Whiting (son of FFS staff Randy Whiting), who died fighting in Baghdad.
Janis was moved by the story and momentarily stopped the recording to dedicate the performance to the memory of Whiting.
While the students did not get to watch the program when it aired live, Geer will be receiving a copy of the show and the kids will all get to enjoy watching themselves perform in this very special project.
