A chorus of youthful patriotism will fill Stetson Middle School on Friday, April 15, when Amerikids, a West Chester-based patriotic show choir, takes the stage.
The 7 p.m. concert, which celebrates the 30th year of Amerikids’ "Service and Song" to the Chester County community, is free and open to the public, with a special invitation to veterans. The concert includes a color guard presentation and the singing of "The Armed Forces Salute."
Under the direction of Nicole O’Rourke, a former music teacher in the West Chester school district, Amerikids is a group of area students in grades five to 12. The students learn a show during a week of summer camp and then take the show on the road during the school year to nursing homes, community events and veteran centers.
Founded in 1986, Amerikids teaches middle and high school children about patriotism and volunteerism, helping them develop self-esteem through performing arts and by devoting their time and talents to community service. The program is open to boys and girls in the Delaware Valley; however, nearly all of its members reside in Chester County and typically consist of all girls, according to its website.
In addition to annual performances ranging from the Veterans Administration hospital in Coatesville to Memorial Day ceremonies, the Amerikids complete many service projects. They have ranged from collecting hundreds of personal hygiene products for Safe Harbor, a homeless shelter in West Chester, to creating and mailing holiday greeting letters to the men and women in the Armed Forces.
In the process, the Amerikids organization has received numerous citations for program excellence from numerous lawmakers to the American Legion.
In addition to the annual concert, a summer camp will be held from July 25 to July 29 at Stetson Middle School from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. All middle-school students who are interested in singing as a community service are welcome.
During the weeklong summer camp, students are mentored by Amerikids who have graduated from the program and return to share their experiences. During the school year the Amerikids rehearse or perform once a week.
For more information, visit http://amerikidswc.org.
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