The Eastern High School Choir was invited to compete in 1988 at the prestigious choral competition, the International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, Austria. The choir overcame insurmountable obstacles with singers who could not read music, learning required competition music by Mozart and Borodin in Latin and German, respectively, and raising $160,000 to travel.
Vienna Fundraising Kickoff – JC Hayward
1988 JC Hayward, WUSA9 news anchor, was the Mistress of Ceremony for the 1988 Fundraising Kick-off Reception to raise money to travel to Vienna.
1988 Vienna Celebration
Eastern High School Choir Celebrating Silver Trophy Win at the 1988 International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, Austria.
1988 Receiving 2nd Place Trophy in Vienna, Austria
Joyce Garrett Receiving Second Place Trophy for the Eastern High School Choir at the 1988 International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, Austria
Judges applaud as Joyce Garrett receives silver trophy. Eighteen different choirs from schools around the world competed by performing classic compositions like Kyrie in D Minor by Wolfgang A. Mozart and Polovetsian Dances by Alexander Borodin. The Eastern High School choir rose to the occasion and was awarded the silver trophy. No third-place trophy was awarded due to the widespread of points between the first and second place awardees and the rest of the competition.
President Ronald Reagan invited the choir to give a performance in the East Room of the White House. The Choir received praise and accolades upon their return to the city.
1988 White House presentation of jacket
Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library Fredericka Gordon, choir president, presenting President Reagan with an Eastern High School Choir Jacket
1988 White House Joyce Garrett
Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library Joyce Garrett and Eastern High School at August 1,1988 White House Performance
1988 President Reagan and Joyce Garrett
Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library President Ronald Reagan Greeting Joyce Garrett During Eastern High School's August 1,1988 White House Performance
Natalia Rodriguez, co-founder and producer of Elan Recordings, offered to record a compact disc of the choir at no cost. The CD contained a mixture of songs from all genres of music, including the songs the choir sang for the Vienna competition.
