The ManualAires in NYC

Coolest place in the whole city (:

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:40:55 -0500

Coolest place in the whole city (:

I always pictured NYPD to be a bit more fancy.

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:38:25 -0500

I always pictured NYPD to be a bit more fancy.

Definately something to remember

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:37:14 -0500

Definately something to remember

Times square is so beautiful . I love the lights , they are so...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:07:13 -0500

Times square is so beautiful . I love the lights , they are so inspiring .

The Greatest Stage in the World

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:13:45 -0500

With approximately six hours until we took to the stage at Carnegie Hall, we went to the Time’s Square Hard Rock Cafe to eat lunch. I’m sure we were getting SOME looks, because we were already wearing our performance attire (we did not have a place to change in Carnegie Hall). So we were there with our dresses on , our tuxes all put together, excited to take to one of the most renowned performance venues in the world.

Matt Tully met us at Hard Rock, interviewed a few students and chatted about the reality that our big day was finally here. What a thing….19 students from one of the lowest performing schools in Indianapolis (although scores are going up, and statistically I have some of the highest performing students from the school in The ManualAires), were invited to participate in a concert in one of the most amazing venues in the nation. It speaks to the truly high caliber people who live in and around Indianapolis, who gave of their time, energy, and resources to make it a reality.

The 19 students, myself, and my wife were able to go to Carnegie Hall early, backstage, in order for some photos to be taken. This in itself was an amazing thing, because everything there is run so structured. So as the students and I were back stage, I went through some house-keeping things about how to hold their folders properly when we sing, and then we sang…our music. We did not have a piano, even though both songs we sang are traditionally performed with piano, I did not want to be in that place with this amazing group of students and NOT sing OUR music. So, we sang two of our pieces we have performed the longest: Don’t Stop Believin’ (our theme song of sorts, and it has worked out pretty well for us so far!), and What a Wonderful World because in that moment, and at that time there could not have been a much more appropriate song to sing. When we sang the last chord, I asked the students to circle up and hold hands.

When I got them all settled in our circle, I reviewed with them how far we have come. I reminded them that over a year ago I received this email inviting us to sing in the world renowned Carnegie Hall. I reviewed that the community supported us, the community spoke up and said we should sing in Carnegie, the community believes in who they are and what they are doing and they spoke up…and made a good idea become a great opportunity. I reviewed how my Grandpa Max, who was one of our biggest fans, believed so much that he was the first and only person to correctly suggest we would raise three times what we needed. This, of course, was emotional for me because as I have previously mentioned, Grandpa passed away in October. But I assured them, holding back my own tears, that Grandpa Max was in the audience in Spirit and he would be cheering the loudest. Then I told them how incredibly proud I was of them. How truly awesome it was that we, The ManualAires were backstage at Carnegie Hall, getting ready to sing. when I was done speaking, I instructed everyone to be quiet for one minute and while they were quiet, they needed to think of a very brief phrase or word to describe our time in NYC.

As I went around the circle, one at a time the students voiced their thoughts. Some laughing, some trying to hold back tears, others with them already running down their cheeks, they spoke of the group being their family, the voiced that the trip had been perfect in every way, one even summed it up in two words, Chinatown and Carnegie Hall. I think it finally set in. I think most of them finally understood, or at least were closer to understanding what it really meant to sing in Carnegie Hall. I shared one final thought with the choir before allowing them to dry their eyes and finish preparing to go onstage. I simply expressed to them that I would not rather be in that place, at that moment with any other group of people. I told them none of them were in that room on accident. I finished by saying that this is only the beginning, and that Carnegie Hall was a pretty good place to start, after all it is the greatest stage in the world.

Back Home in Indiana (Taken with instagram)

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:33:33 -0500

Back Home in Indiana (Taken with instagram)

Last lunch in NY! (Taken with instagram)

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:24:53 -0500

Last lunch in NY! (Taken with instagram)

Definitely not enforced.

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:06:49 -0500

Definitely not enforced.

The ManualAires.

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:10:38 -0500

We fight. We argue. We disagree. We laugh. We smile. We cry. We’re a family. From the beginning till the end. That’s the way it’s been. We have our ups. We have our downs. We have our moments. We have our fights. We share our laughers. We share our pain. Working together got us where we are today. Carnegie Hall. The beginning of a story. The beginning of our journey. Being led by a man who plays the role of the father in this family. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Because we’ve worked for everything we have accomplished. We proved everyone Wrong. We do not hold the imagine of slum bags that we are presume to have. We go far beyond that and prove everyone wrong. We are The ManualAires, the brightest of the bright. Hold on to tonight guys because things like these come once in a life. Lupe.

These past few days have been extraordinary. When I made the final walk onto the Carnegie Hall...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:24:33 -0500

These past few days have been extraordinary. When I made the final walk onto the Carnegie Hall stage, I stood amazed. It took everything not to cry when I was thinking about how this is my senior year and soon we will all part our own ways, not to say some will still continue to be my friends. My roommates and I are packing and it is sad to know that we have to leave this great city but are happy to return home to Indiana to share our stories with the Indianapolis community. Well goodnight for now, today has been wonderful (crystal)

It's not over.

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:18:12 -0500

Im so grateful to be apart of the group. You all are the main reason I go to school. You’re the reason I smile & know the true meaning of friends. You’re my second family. Like Tiffany said, we may fight and not agree at times, but in the end, it’s all love. No matter what. You guys are honestly my life. And I wouldnt have it any differently. This trip was amazing. And like Mr. Lloyd said, this is just the beginning. - Miranda.

Here they are singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow in Carnegie...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:43:31 -0500

Here they are singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow in Carnegie Hall! -Maggie

New Perspective

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:31:27 -0500

When asked to describe what the trip to NYC meant to me, I replied with “A whole new perspective on life…” The ManualAires are my 2nd family & oftentimes the first thing that comes to mind when I need a pick-me-up or something to make my day better. I, myself, don’t have the best relationship with my mom & dad, & I’m sure I’m not the only one, but like one of my classmates said I fell more at home with all of you than I do anywhere else. You see, its more than just a hobby…singing is my life, & using the voice that was granted to me by God has opened so many other doors filled with opportunitues. I plan to cherish all these memories & always keep them with me in picture form :) I can’t say enough about how amazing NYC is…I feel like I belong here. I could go for days upon days in detail of all the feelings I’m having, but its almost time to perform! 10 minutes & counting down, I’m feeling like a million bucks ready to take the stage of Carnegie Hall! <3 , Amanda

My mascara. Definitely fits the occasion! - Miranda :)

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:40:06 -0500

My mascara. Definitely fits the occasion! - Miranda :)

The Calm before the Storm

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:36:23 -0500

I’m backstage in Carnegie Hall and…wait, did I just really type that?! I need to do it again, I’m backstage at Carnegie Hall…whoa, that’s cool!

Anyway, we are getting ready to line up for dress rehearsal, and excitement is tangible. This is COOL!

Just finished shopping in Times Square & now about to eat at...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00:24 -0500

Just finished shopping in Times Square & now about to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe! -Maggie

The presidential seal. I’ll have one of those on my desk...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:46:57 -0500

The presidential seal. I’ll have one of those on my desk one day. :) - Lupe.

My first chocolate croissant and Spencer’s amazing...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:26:34 -0500

My first chocolate croissant and Spencer’s amazing chocolate donut! (Taken with instagram)

The things we do…its 1:52 am right now and we have all...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:58:30 -0500

The things we do…its 1:52 am right now and we have all just finished making posters for the TODAY show in the morning :) The day was amazing and I am not ready to leave this city behind ! My tears fell as I stood at the foot of where the twin towers used to stand & my director helped me with his comforting words. I really can’t thank you enough Mr. Lloyd…everything you have done for the ManualAires. We all love you <3 - amanda !

Somebody's Daughter

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:47:53 -0500

The excitement today over many things was almost tangible. The students all had a great time, going different directions and doing different things (all under the watchful eyes of their chaperones, of course). This included adventures in Chinatown. Yes, the students got to experience the joy of actually being able to negotiate the price of something they were buying. The stories they shared at dinner afterward were priceless. It was very empowering to hear them talk about being ready to walk out of a shop, only to have the owner cave to their proposed prices letting them walk away the victor! However, before we split and went our ways in Chinatown we had a reservation to keep at the 9/11 Memorial. The excitement was real about visiting the site of the attack on America. But it was a cautious excitement. The students were somewhat unsure what to expect, however some fully anticipated being overtaken by the emotions of visiting a site, which carried such great significance. After a whole lot of walking, some standing in lines, going through security, and more walking, we rounded the corner into the memorial park. The first noticeable facet of the area was the sound of the water cascading down the walls of the memorials into the pools, only to fall again out of sight. My first priority was finding an appropriate place to stand, in order to sing the National Anthem. We walked in a little ways, found a small opening, got in our lines, and let out The Star Spangled Banner. Never, in all the MANY time we have performed this, do I believe it was quite as meaningful to the students, or to me conducting it. In fact, the last time I was in NYC, I sang the National Anthem where the towers fell, only there was no memorial. A word about the memorial: it seems as though it speaks to the vivacity of the American spirit that we were able to take a tragedy as morbid as this and turn it into something so beautiful. As we let our first few notes ring out, the people milling around us grew quickly quiet, and many stood to their feet, if they were sitting. I am sure there were more cameras than the ones we had recording, but there was an automatic respect, and reverence shown for the sanctity of our Nation’s song. Of course, I was conducting, so I was only looking at my students. What I saw was beautiful. As we honored our nation, in memory of those who had lost their lives tears began to fall from the eyes of a few choir members. Certainly, the voices of those who lost their lives that day were joined with us as we paid homage to innocence, which was robbed from far too many. All who were lost that day are remembered through their name appearing on a slanted short wall, which surrounds the fountains. As I was walking around looking at these names, I was choking back tears as I began to think of these people, not as fallen soldiers - for they did not choose the battle they were thrust into - but as somebody’s son, as somebody’s father, mother, brother… One, in particular stood out to me. Although I do not recall the exact name of the individual, I do remember what followed her name, “and her unborn child.” This young woman, who was killed on that most dreadful day was pregnant. She was going to bring new life into this world, and instead her’s was taken away. I worked hard to hold back my tears when I saw this. But it really struck me, when I saw this name, “and her unborn child.” She was going to be somebody’s mother, but she was still somebody’s daughter.