Harlem High School choir wins chance to sing with rock band Foreigner

MACHENSEY PARK, Ill. (WTVO) — Harlem High School’s advanced choir is set to harmonize alongside Hall of Fame rock band, Foreigner.

The students won a competition to perform on stage with the band in May.

“I heard about the contest like a week prior, because I was my mom told me about it, and I’m like, ‘oh, I really hope our school does this,'” said Choir singer Gabe Coletta. “When Mr. Toledo announced it, I’m like, ‘oh, this is going to be really fun.'”

The choir beat out several other area schools.

“It was like a weight was lifted off our shoulders because after all the waiting and all the like stressing about, are we going to make it to this competition?” Coletta explained. “When we finally found out, we were like, celebrating. We were all like, ‘we don’t have to worry anymore.'”

On Monday, the choir had its final rehearsal to make sure that everyone is ready.

“We all have trust in each other, which is like a big component that we need,” Coletta continued. “With Mr. Toledo’s direction, I think it’s just going really well.”

Choir Director Jeremy Toledo hoped this competition showed his students that when a community comes together, anything is possible.

I think sometimes, performing arts communities and performing arts groups kind of feel somewhat shadowed by sports, you know, and I think that I really want our kids to know… that’s not always true,” Toledo explained. “We’re very blessed to have a really great overall district community that supports our students.”

The students will be performing the band’s 1984 hit “I Want to Know What Love Is” in two weeks.