OACC Presented A Concert of Hope
sThe Oneida Area Civic Chorale presented “Concert of Hope featuring “Sing for the Cure” on Sunday June 2nd, 2024 at 4:00 PM at Oneida High School Auditorium. The 100 voice Choral was accompanied by a 10 piece chamber orchestra and guest soloists. This production featured the 11 movements of “Sing for the Cure” which follows the cancer journey from diagnosis to survival. Originally written about breast cancer, the pieces can apply to any cancer diagnosis or any major health crisis. The chorale also performed “I’ll Make The Difference” by Moses Hogan and the Mark Hayes arrangement of “You’ll Never Walk Alone/Climb Every Mountain”
As part of the performance of this emotion-filled work, the OACC accepted donations In Honor of and In Memory Of those who have succumbed to, are currently fighting, or have recovered from cancer or a life-threatening illness. Memorial and Honor listings were published and acknowledged in the concert program, with donations benefiting two local cancer organizations, “Jessica’s Heros” and the Relay for Life of Central NY. Each organization received $1500 from this event.
Bonnie Hibbard was the narrator and guest soloists were Jessica Lotyzewski and Joseph Carney. Ms Hibbard is a retired vocal music teacher, having taught at Proctor High School, Utica for thirteen years and Clinton High School for twenty years. She is involved in accompanying for concerts and local musical productions, teaches private voice lessons and is actively involved in with Rome Capitol Summerstage, Players of Utica and M Proctor Theater Guild at Grace Chuch.
Ms. Lotyzewski is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia and has been a music educator for seventeen years. She has taught at Clinton, Waterville and New Hartford Central Schools. She also enjoys singing with the Camillus Community Choir and performing in community theatre at Rome Capital Summerstage and the M Proctor Theater Guild.
Mr Carney is a 2024 graduate in Music Education from Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and plans to continue on to a Master’s in vocal performance and pedagogy at Penn State University. He has performed opera and musical theater roles, most recently with the Crane Opera Ensemble in The Enchanted Pig.