Musical groups from high school to professional will take over South Lakes High School as the SingStrong International Charity A cappella Festival returns to Reston March 6, 7 and 8.
The seventh-annual all-vocal event consists of five concerts at SLHS, an auction, and more than a dozen classes and coachings, all featuring nothing but the human voice.
Event proceeds support the Alzheimer’s Association and local music programs. Fans can attend single concerts or purchase weekend discount passes, which offer savings of up to 50-percent off.
This year’s performers will include:
- Gospel-pop sounds of Resound (featured on ABC)
- Traces from this season of NBC’s The Sing-Off
- Vocaldente, the international award-winning German swing-pop group.
- Anna-Maria Hefele, YouTube sensation and Austrian overtone singer.
- Broadway Trio Apollo Link (aka The Spideyboys)
- Ensamble Fenix, Venezuela’s top latin jazz vocal group
- Blue Jupiter, the pop and twisted Broadway quartet featured by Oreo, Nokia, and Nickelodeon
- Ball in the House, Boston’s R&B sensations featured on America’s Got Talent
- The Alexandria Harmonizers, barbershop multi-medalists
- Feedback, NYC’s studio singers turned jazzy R&B group
Groups will use only their voices to perform leads, harmonies and to vocally imitate a virtual orchestra of sounds — including jazz trumpet, classical strings, distorted electric guitar and a full drum set.
Some of the other highlights:
Friday, 7 p.m. Concert features “ACA-Idol,” an a cappella competition for professional and collegiate groups in the style of American Idol. Celebrity judges will give live feedback. The show is hosted by Jonathan Minkoff (of Blue Jupiter, acappella101.com, RARB.org). First place is $1,000, and audience members get to vote using their cell phones to help determine the winner. Competitors include: The BluesTones from JMU, The Seabelles, The Rhythm and Roos from University of Akron, Uncommon, The Lobby, CATCH-22, Pitches Be Crazy and more.
Saturday, 7 p.m. Main Event Concert features multiple professional a cappella groups including Traces, Blue Jupiter, Anna-Maria Hefele, and Apollo Link (aka Spideyboys).
Saturday, 9:30 p.m. Main Event Concert features more pro a cappella groups, including Resound, Ball in the House, Vocaldente, Ensamble Fenix, Feedback and more.
Saturday, 2 p.m. Concert features the Finals of SingStrong’s High School Competition, with awards for performance, arranging and composition, as judged by respected a cappella educators from around the country.
Sunday, 2 p.m. Concert features Resound, Traces, Ensamble Fenix, The Alexandria Harmonizers, Feedback, and Apollo Link (aka Spideyboys).
Amateur singers will be involved in classes and coaching on such topics as recording techniques, stage presence, forming and directing an a cappella group, beatboxing, copyright law, and musical arranging.
For singers who attend without a group to perform with, SingStrong offers an open a cappella group, The Single Singers. Attendees sign up, get their music online, briefly rehearse together at the festival, and then perform on the mainstage.
Tickets range from $15 to $35. Discounted passes available for Seniors, Students and groups of 10 or more. Free Parking. Tickets and complete info at www.SingStrong.org.
Photo: Vocaldente are among SingStrong headliners/Credit: SingsStrong
South Lakes High School is sponsoring a forum with a cyber-security expert that will examine technology and cyberbullying.
The forum, “Keeping Your Kids Safe: Vulnerabilities through Technology and Social Media” will feature local cybercrime specialist Chad Brockway. The session is from Feb. 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the SLHS Theatre.
The school is billing the presentation as “how kids are using technology and how technology can be used against your kids. Topics include Bullying, “Sexting”, Social Media, Online Credibility, Blackmail, Crimes against Children, Child Abduction and more.
Parents can learn about new and emerging technologies; how to monitor and what to watch for; how to talk to your kids about safe online behavior and what resources are available to you for support.
This is a timely topic as several SLHS parents told FCPS Superintendent Karen Garza their concerns on the issues during the Superintendents Listening Tour stop in Reston in December.
Multiple event victories by sophomore Devyn Jones as well as domination in the relays led the South Lakes High School indoor track teams to Liberty Conference championships in both the boys and girls divisions Thursday at the Prince George’s County Sports and Learning Complex Landover, Md.
SLHS girls team scored 147 points for its fourth consecutive title. James Madison was second with 86 while Langley and McLean tied for third with 54.50 points each. The Seahawks boys team (195 points) won its seventh consecutive title, topping McLean (68) and James Madison and Washington-Lee tied at third (48).
Read More
Opening tonight in Reston and Herndon: annual musical revues from the schools’ choral departments.
South Lakes High School will present its 10th annual Broadway Night, where more than 200 students and feature selected numbers from the last 10 years of shows. SLHS Choral students also assume leadership roles, running every aspect of the show: performing, directing, production, technical theatre, publicity, costuming, and choreography.
Show dates are Friday at 7 p.m and Saturday at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Tickets start at $8.
Over at Herndon High, choir students will present their annual Broadway Cabaret. This year’s theme is “The Streets of New York,” and students will present numbers from shows such as Annie, Newsies, Anything Goes and 42nd Street, among others.
Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $5 and can be purchased at the door.
Photo: Herndon students in dress rehearsal for this weekend’s Cabaret/Courtesy of HHS
South Lakes boys basketball will be without leading scorer Brandon Kamga for the next month as the senior chipped a bone in his ankle last week.
Kamga, who was averaging 23.8 point per game for the Seahawks, went up for a layup and landed on another player’s foot during a victory over Jefferson last week, said coach Andrew Duggan. Kamga is in a boot cast.
“We expect him to be back in about four weeks and ready to rock,” said Duggan. “Unfortunately, these things happen.”
Kamga was the Northern Region 5A boys Player of the Year last Year. He has signed to play with Northeastern University next year.
Even though they were without Kamga as well as sophomore Marcus Cherry (injured knee) on Friday, South Lakes still defeated Herndon 64-59. Senior Zach Pearl scored 22 points in the victory. The team had not beaten crosstown rival Herndon since 2011.
The Seahawks are now 6-1 and ranked No. 15 by The Washington Post. It is the best start in Duggan’s five years at the school.
Duggan says he is impressed with the depth of this year’s team and there are a number of kids who can step in to make up for Kamga’s loss.
The Herndon game was a great example, he said.
“Zach [Pearl] is our second-leading scorer, and he really stepped up,” said Duggan. “Grant Chustz can get to the basket the way Brandon does. He had 12 against Herndon.
The Seahawks will need the rest of the team to be healthy as they take on No. 3 National Christian (8-1) in the first round of the Wakefield Holiday Tournament on Friday.
Photo: Brandon Kamga/Credit: Dmvlite.com
South Lakes High School’s boys basketball team enters the Washington Post poll as the No. 15 team this week.
The Seahawks are 5-1 after defeated Thomas Jefferson 46-25 on Tuesday. They upset former No. 13 Woodson 75-70 last week.
The team is led by Brandon Kamga, who is averaging 26 points per game. Kamga, a senior, has committed to play at Northeastern next year.
The girls team is also 5-1 after a 71-25 victory over Jefferson on Tuesday. They are led by senior Princess Aghayere (18 ppg) and Kamga’s sister, Brenda (16.2 ppg).
Swimming – The boys and girls teams both defeated Fairfax on Friday. The boys won 175-134; the girls, 169-145. Next up for the Seahawks is Stone Bridge on Friday at Ida Lee Park Recreation Center in Leesburg.
Indoor Track — With 20 athletes meeting conference, regional or state qualifying standards, the South Lakes High School indoor track team opened its season by taking the top two spots at the Liberty Elite Invitational Saturday at Liberty University. SLHS scored 61 points and placed atop the 31-team boys field and second among the 26 girls teams in the competition.
Junior Eric Kirlew, who won the triple-jump in a state meet qualifying distance of 44-3.75. Senior Comfort Reed reserved a spot in the state meet with a 36-5.25 in the triple jump, finishing second overall.
The girls 4×400 meter relay team of senior Claire Nieusma, junior Golden Kumi-Darfour and sophomores Devyn Jones and Jessica Lister finished second in the race with a regional qualifying time of 4:12.72.
Bruce Butler, the former principal of South Lakes High School, has a new job: Interim principal at Langley High School.
Butler replaces Matt Ragone, who took over as principal at South County High School in late November. South County’s longtime principal Jane Lipp was named FCPS’ assistant superintendent for special services earlier this year.
Butler was principal at South Lakes High School from 2005 to 2012. Prior to that he was an assistant principal at SLHS for seven years.
In 2012, Butler retired after 31 years in the school system.
FCPS awarded him the Nancy F. Sprague First-Year Administrator Award and named him 2007 Outstanding First-Year Principal by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).
Butler was a fixture in the halls of SLHS and at extracurricular activities. He also saw the school through a multimillion dollar renovation and sometimes contentious redistricting battle.
The school population grew to more than 2,100 students during Butler’s tenure, and test scores and achievement also rose.
South Lakes gives out a Bruce Butler Leadership Award each spring to a graduating senior who shows outstanding leadership, scholarship and service.
Photo: Bruce Butler at community sendoff in 2012/File photo
Calling All Restaurants — The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce needs donations for its annual First Responders Holiday Celebration at noon on Dec. 16 at the Fairfax County Police’s Reston District Station. If you are a restaurant or catering business, please consider donating a dish to honor police, fire and rescue, and EMT personnel in Reston and Herndon for their service. Contact Todd Rhoden at 703-707-9045.
Holiday Show At SLHS — The Sounds of the Holidays dance concert will be presented by South Lakes High dance students and members of the school’s Fusion Dance Company on Friday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at SLHS. This family friendly dance concert will celebrate the sounds of the holidays with performances set to favorites like Winter Wonderland, Carol of the Bells, and Jingle Bells. Suggested admission donation of $5.
Honors For Buzz Aldrin ES — The National PTA has recognized Reston’s Buzz Aldrin Elementary School and the Buzz Aldrin Elementary School PTA as a National PTA School of Excellence for their achievement in building effective family-school partnerships. Being recognized as a National PTA School of Excellence demonstrates Buzz Aldrin and the PTA’s leadership and commitment to partnering to support student success and continuous school improvement. [Reston Connection]
(Updated, Friday 10:44 a.m.)
South Lakes High School is under increased security today as a threat of violence at the school was discovered on social media on Thursday, said Principal Kim Retzer.
Sources said that after a fight this week in the 10th grade locker pod, one student said on social media he would bring a gun to school.
There was much chatter about that on tumblr and Twitter Thursday night, and parents and students alerted the school. Many sophomores told their parents they wanted to skip first period Friday due to fear.
The student who originally posted the threats was intercepted by the school security officer this morning, sources said.
Parents and students received this memo from Retzer this morning:
A threat directed at South Lakes High School was discovered on social media yesterday. Fairfax County Police were notified and determined the threat was not credible but, as a precaution, the FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Fairfax County Police have provided additional assistance for the school.
This, of course, raises the issue of the appropriate use of social media and how the irresponsible use of these tools can waste resources and cause unnecessary concern and anxiety. We hope this information will put to rest any rumors that continue to persist regarding this incident.
The anonymity provided by certain applications only complicates our efforts to provide a safe and non-threatening learning environment. We will continue to have discussions with students about appropriate uses of technology and supervise technology usage in school. However, we need your assistance as much of this activity takes place outside the school day when students are not under our supervision.
The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. The adults responsible for keeping students safe can do their jobs more effectively, if students are willing to report problems or suspicious behavior and I encourage you to engage your children in discussions about maintaining a safe school environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the school office.
Kim Retzer
Principal
Three athletes from South Lakes High School and four from Herndon High signed national letters of intent this week to play Division I sports in college.
The National Letter of Intent early signing period opened on Wednesday.
South Lakes High School
Princess Aghayere, women’s basketball — University of Pennsylvania. The 6-foot-1 Aghayere led the Seahawks in rebounding, including grabbing 22 in a game against Madison,, in 2013-14.
Delaney Wickman, track and field — Northeastern University. Wickman was a state meet participant last spring, taking third with the girls 4×400 relay and fifth in both the 200 meters and 400 meters.
Brandon Kamga, men’s basketball — Northeastern University. Kamga is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard who scored in double figures in every SLHS game last season.
Herndon High School
Ashley Schnarrs, softball — George Washington University. Schnarrs plays with HHS teammate Martire on the Vienna Stars travel team.
Melanie Martire — softball — St. Francis (Pa.). Martire plays catcher and third base.
Ryan McLaughlin, men’s lacrosse — High Point University. McLaughlin also passed for 14 touchdowns as quarterback of the Herndon football team this season.
Taylor Stone, field hockey — University of Louisville. Stone had 23 regular-season goals and 20 assists to lead the Hornets to an 18-2 regular-season record this fall.
Photo: SLHS basketball player Brandon Kamga signed this week to play basketball at Northeastern University next season/Credit: Seahawk Sports
Reston’s top-ranked girls’ basketball team is ramping up for the season after big wins last year.
Players on the varsity team at South Lakes High School are training now, and tryouts will be held on Nov. 10, said Coach Christy Winters Scott.
“We lost eight seniors from last season, so we’re looking to remodel what we had,” Winters Scott said. “We’re looking for heart, hustle, effort, execution and passion for the game.”
The Seahawks won 23 of 26 games last year and beat James Madison High School in Vienna for the Liberty Conference 6 title in February.
To get up to speed before the team’s first scrimmage Nov. 18, players are gutting out rigorous workouts with the school’s track team, said Winters Scott, a Reston resident and native who was the 1986 All-Met Player of the Year on the school’s undefeated team. The athletes are sprinting, doing “explosive” work to develop speed, jumping hurdles and lifting weights during 90-minute workouts several times a week.
Winters Scott — who calls WNBA games for the Washington Mystics and is a color analyst for Comcast SportsNet, ESPN and Fox Sports –said she teaches her players to give it all they’ve got.
“You see the kids pushing the limit and going after what they want in life,” she said. “Twenty points per game will come if those things are in place.”
Team sports help girls test their potential, Winters Scott.
“Girls who have been active in athletics are more successful in business or as a mom, or both,” she said. “You never know what’s inside unless you tap in. Athletics forces you to tap in.”
Marching bands, floats and homecoming courts will flood the streets of Reston and Herndon this weekend. South Lakes High School and Herndon High School are both celebrating their annual homecoming weekends.
The festivities will kick off in Reston at 5 p.m. Friday, when a parade will begin near the Hunters Woods Plaza Safeway. The procession will move north on Colts Neck Road and head east on South Lakes Drive to South Lakes High.
The Seahawks will play Thomas Jefferson High School starting at 7:30 p.m. Students will attend the homecoming dance in the school gym Saturday night.
Herndon High School’s carnival-themed parade is set to kick off at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in downtown Herndon. Participants will begin to march on Sterling Road, head east onto Elden Street, turn left onto Lynn Street and end on Center Street.
“Neighbors, families and friends are invited to line Elden Street and cheer on our home team and the whole community,” the town website reads.
Floats will be judged based on “creativity and theme interpretation,” the site says.
The Hornets will play the Edison Eagles at 1:30 p.m., and then students will attend a dance that night.
Friends and relatives of Emma Clark will gather later this week to remember the South Lakes High School senior, who died suddenly last Wednesday.
Emma’s family will hold visitation at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden St. in Herndon, Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 11 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Rd. in Reston.
To see more information or sign an online condolence book visit the Adams-Green website.
South Lakes students held a candlelight vigil for Emma, 17, on Friday night in her neighborhood, the Monroe Manor section of Oak Hill. Emma has been remembered by fellow students as a softball player and chorus member. She also held a part-time job at Life Time Athletic in Reston.
There has been an outpouring of support both from South Lakes students and teens from neighboring schools. The Seahawks football team dedicated its Friday night game vs. McLean to Emma, as did athletes from nearby schools.
Photo: Emma Clark/2014 SLHS Yearbook
South Lakes High School’s Class of 2015 has banded together in the aftermath of the sudden death of their classmate, Emma Clark.
Emma, who lived in Oak Hill, unexpectedly died on Wednesday. The cause of death has not been released.
She had been a member of chorus groups and the South Lakes softball team, classmates said. She also held a part-time job at Life Time Athletic in Reston.
The Class of 2015 encouraged one another to wear green to school on Friday in memory of Emma. The students also signed a giant banner in Emma’s honor.
The class is planning a candlelight vigil Friday night near the Monroe Manor neighborhood where Emma lived.
Students from South Lakes and neighboring schools took to Twitter with messages with the hashtag #RIPEmma.
South Lakes received flowers and a note of support from Langley High School students. Two Langley students committed suicide the same week during the 2013-14 school year.
South Lakes High School students are mourning the death of senior Emma Clark, who died unexpectedly on Wednesday.
Students were told of the news at school this morning. Grief counselors will be available to any student who needs help.
No further details of the cause of death have been released.
Principal Kim Retzer also reached out to SLHS families in an email:
Dear South Lakes Families,
It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of senior Emma Clark’s unexpected death yesterday. Emma was well liked by all who knew her. She was an excellent student and active in a number of school activities. She will be truly missed and lovingly remembered by the South Lakes community.
Understanding death, especially the death of a peer, can be a very difficult experience. For that reason, we hope that you will listen to your son or daughter as well as discuss with them their feelings and reactions to this tragedy. We are taking every step we can to be responsive to the needs of our students and their families. A crisis team has been set up to support our students and staff over the next two days. Keep us informed if there are ways we can support you.
On behalf of all members of the school staff, our deepest condolences are with Emma’s family and friends during this difficult time. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to call the school office 703-715-4500.
Photo: Emma Clark, 2014 South Lakes yearbook
