NEW YORK — The West Milford High School Choir performed at Carnegie Hall on Oct. 25 with the classic rock band, Foreigner, as part of a competition to join the band WHEN .
The Highlanders weren't the big winners in the competition, but they did have a pretty amazing experience, getting to sing with the band on the Carnegie Hall stage.
The West Milford High School Choir was one of five finalists from the tri-state area to make it to the last phase of an a capella contest that began this past spring. Three of the five finalists hailed from New Jersey: West Milford, Ramsey High School Chorus, and Chatham Chorus.
Chatham Chorus won the competition.
The contest was sponsored by Foreigner, which is currently on tour promoting its new album, "In Concert: Unplugged," and New York Classic Rock radio station WAXQ-FM 104.3. The finalists were chosen by the radio station.
Each of the choral finalists performed one song, unaccompanied. Judges for the final competition included members of Foreigner's management and the radio station Q104.3. The winning choir would join Foreigner on stage for their hit song, "I Want to Know What Love Is", and receive a $5,000 grant from the Grammy Foundation for their school’s music department.
The finalists had about a week to prepare for their competition performance. West Milford’s choral director Doug Heyburn said he was very proud to be able to teach his students.
“They've done a great job, and they sound wonderful,” he added.
He also commended his students for joining together to prepare for the final part of the contest in such a short time.
West Milford’s Choir selected "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen for their contest performance.
While the Chatham Choir won the competition, a select number of students representing each of the runner-up schools were also given the chance to join Foreigner on stage as they performed the gospel/choir portion of the hit Foreigner song "I Want to Know What Love Is."