SAVAPA Music is Broadway-bound

When Leif Burns learned the Southwest Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts’ music program would be heading to New York for a choir festival, he was not initially thrilled with the idea.

“I’m not very fond of large cities,” said Leif, a 16-year-old junior at Southwest High School.

It did not take Leif long to change his mind, however, once he learned the group would be performing on a Broadway stage.

The Voices on Broadway Choir Festival will give the club members the opportunity to sing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” with the cast of “Mary Poppins” on Broadway in April.

“It blew me away,” he said. “It’s one thing to visit New York but to actually get to perform on Broadway is something that I’m extremely looking forward to.”

Fellow member Gianna Dorantes said the trip to New York will be a dream come true.

“I cannot even explain how excited I am to be going on this trip,” said Gianna, a 17-year-old junior. “I’m sure it’s going to be a wonderful journey that I’ll always remember.”

To help fund the trip to the Big Apple, SAVAPA music members held a barbecue dinner fundraiser here Wednesday.

“We’ve estimated that the trip for each student will be about $1500,” said Anita Slobig, SAVAPA music director.

Slobig admitted even she was excited to attend the festival and have the opportunity to sing with her students.

“I told them that I would be practicing, too, so I could get up there,” she said with a smile.

Slobig anticipated it would be a great opportunity for the students who would be able to make the trip.

“We have an amazing group of parents that have been extremely dedicated in making sure this journey becomes a reality,” she said. “We won’t be able to do it without them.”