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PORT CHESTER, N.Y. -- Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Seth Glier’s concert with the cast of Port Chester High’s production of the musical “Pippin” raised nearly $3,000 this month.
Josh Tenzer, high school teacher and drama coach, said the money will be used to pay for sets, costumes and other costs for the high school musical, scheduled for April 14-16.
Students opened their March 12 fundraising concert with an energetic rendition of “Magic to Do” from Pippin.
Afterwards, Glier and his touring partner, saxophonist Joe Nerney, played a set from his album, “If I Could Change One Thing.” They also performed a few hits by other artists, including “Let it Be” by the Beatles and “If I Only had a Heart” from “The Wizard of Oz.”
Student cast members joined the pair on stage to sing “Wild Horses,” “Lauralee,” and several other numbers. Port Chester High graduate Rosie Veltri, now an Ithaca College junior, accompanied Glier in “If I Could Change One Thing.”
Students have been rehearsing for the Pippin performances since January but had practiced songs for only a couple days before their concert with Glier, 27, whose 2011 album, “The Next Right Thing” was nominated for a Grammy as best engineered non-classical album.
“Seth offered to come and play and raise all the money from the community,” said Taryn Herbert, a mother of two students in the production and volunteer vocal coach. “The kids were thrilled just at that but then he offered to do a mini masterclass.”
“They were a really, really talented group and really eager and great listeners,” Glier said. “They put themselves into it, which is really all that actually matters.”
“The concert was actually pretty amazing,” said Pippin stage manager Diana Maldonado, a Port Chester senior. “His voice was so soulful and so rich and so powerful and I’m just like, ‘Woah!’”
Ambar Lopez is a member of Purchase College's Community Reporting Team.
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