Stars shine for Disney World
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on December 14, 2016 9:57 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Goldsboro High School senior Araselys Cash, second from left, sings with the GHS Stars performance group during practice Dec. 8 in the auditorium at the school. The group was formed in the fall and is already making plans and fundraising to travel to Disney World in December of 2017 to compete
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Ariella Hendershaw, bottom right, chorus and drama teacher at Goldsboro High School, gives direction to the GHS Stars vocal performance group in the auditorium at Goldsboro High School. Mrs. Hendershaw, hired this year to revamp the program, formed the GHS Stars competitive team, which already has plans to travel to Disney World next December and is currently fundraising and performing around the community.
The choral music program at Goldsboro High School is being revamped, starting with a new performance group called GHS Stars that has its sights set on performing at Disney World in the next year.
Ariella Hendershaw, a military spouse from south Florida who had her own professional singing career starting at age 5, said she was confident going in that students at the school were poised for such an opportunity.
"When I was interviewing for the position, they had told me that Goldsboro really didn't have a stable music department for awhile," she said. "They had teachers that came and taught but would go to different schools.
"They really wanted to have something a little bit more stationary here."
Her own background lent itself to the challenge.
"At the age of five I started singing professionally," she said. "By the age of 16 I had two record contracts, record labels that I was signed with. I completed a tour with Radio Disney by the age of 16 and by the age of 19, I opened my performing arts school in south Florida, Fort Lauderdale," she said, sharing that one of her students was the Grammy-winning Ariana Grande. "I recorded my first album, it sold over 75,000 copies. That's what took me to the Radio Disney tour."
The resume impressed school officials, who were receptive to the concept of a competitive team that would be more visible in the community and on the road.
"I feel like our school could do this," she said. "(Superintendent) Dr. (Michael) Dunsmore said, revamp the music program here."
She teaches two chorus classes, working with students on a capella arrangements and harmonizing together. There was an audition process for that, as well as the GHS Stars group, with 15 students chosen for the latter.
"They have already been proving themselves," she said. "They're working hard, two or three times a week after school ever since they auditioned.
"These are the kids, this is their extra curricular, just like basketball or football. These are the kids that this is what they want to do so we're taking it to the next level."
Their focus is not only developing as a group, said Katie Kimble, media coordinator. They are also avidly fundraising for that trip to Disney, selling raffle tickets and performing around the area.
"We decided that there was an opportunity to sing on the main stage at Disney," Mrs. Hendershaw said. "We figured, why not? Why not our students?"
They submitted an audition video, which was accepted, and students are making preparations to go to Florida.
"They do a workshop with the Disney cast and they actually teach them a Disney song and then they're able to record a professional CD of the song that they learned," she explained. "A lot of students are not going to be able to go to Disney on their own or do a record."
Plans were being made for the trip to happen this school year, but the cost is a bit prohibitive, the teachers said. Price tag on the travel and hotel alone for 15 students and four chaperones is around $18,000, plus another $2,000 more for the bus.
The goal now is to make the trip in Dec. 2017.
"One of the days will be performing day at Epcot," Mrs. Hendershaw said. "The second day will be their workshop there and then we'll have three days to enjoy the park and see what Disney is."
GHS principal Robert Yelverton called the new teacher a "tremendous asset" to the school.
"Her passion and her excitement, it's kind of spread out to the staff," he said. "She had a vision of what she wanted to do and it fit in with things we want to try to do here."
Sophomore Xzavier Carlton 15, said he knew the minute the announcement was made about auditions that he had to be on the team.
"My whole family, most of us can sing," he said. "I'm used to performing. We have been singing together for a long time.
"It's not just something that keeps me active. It's my passion. I love to sing."
His best friend and classmate, Jaliyah Davis, has often sung with him since they realized their shared talent.
"I have been performing for a long time, ever since kindergarten," she said. "My first solo, we were singing 'Be a Star' and the girl didn't show up and I had to sing her solo. (My teacher) told my mom I've got some pipes on me."
At one point, she was in six choirs, in her church and at school, she said.
"Singing is my passion," she said. "I express my feelings through it. I sing when I get bored."
It has been enjoyable watching the students forge bonds, said Lesli Darden, technology facilitator and coach for the Stars.
"They have really started forming a team," she said.
"It's exciting," Mrs. Hendershaw added. "The sky's the limit with this school and the amount of talent here."
There are several opportunities this month to catch a performance of the Stars -- Dec. 16, a fundraiser at Kickin' Kiwi from 6-10 p.m., a holiday showcase at the school on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, $2 for children, age 4 and under, free.
They are also developing an online presence, with a website at goldsborohighschoolstars.weebly.com/, GoFund Me Page funds.gofundme.com/dashboard/GHSstars and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ghsstars