Foothill High Choir Joins Foreigner on Stage

Thirteen members of the Choir hit a musical high note when they joined Foreigner on stage at to sing “I Want to Know What Love Is."

The choir was chosen after being nominated by a parent of one of the members during the first week of July for a radio contest put on by KKIQ.

In addition to being selected to perform with the rock band, the choir will be given a $500 grant. The funds raised during last week's performance through CD sales and an auctioned Les Paul guitar also benefitted the Grammy Foundation, which strives to keep music in the schools.

Joann Koobatian, choir director of Foothill High School, says the choir won the contest after votes were tallied. She said she was told by someone at the radio station that they won “by a landslide.”

The choir members met early last week at Foothill High School to plan their concert attire and to rehearse the song.  

Some of the student singers had just graduated and some of the students will be in advanced choir next year.

Danyelle Guernsey, a 2012 graduate, says her parents were really excited about the upcoming performance.

“We were stoked. My parents are huge fans,” said Guernsey.

The performers from Foothill High were: Dani Comito, Danyelle Guernsey, Albert Ho, Daniel Kang, Chelsea Kim, Ashley Landicho, Daniel Le, Camille Lusher, Mia McGovern Sandy Mostardi, Jacob Richey, Barik Singh and Anjali Wignarajah.

The choir students greeted the Wente guests streaming in through the gates on Wednesday evening before the performance and handed out fliers about the Grammy Foundation.

Dressed all in black, the choir joined the band on stage toward the end of the concert and sang.

The band Foreigner was founded in 1976 and rose to popularity throughout the late 70s and 80s. Some of their biggest hits included, "Cold as Ice", "Urgent," "Jukebox Hero," "Dirty White Boy" and "I Want to Know What Love Is."

Tom Gimbel of Foreigner said “music is important to everyone.”

“The Grammy Foundation is an organization that resonates with everyone. Music is so important to us as a band and having the opportunity to partner with local choirs make performing so special.”

“This was our fourth time performing at Wente Vineyards and the atmosphere at the property is so unique – fantastic wine, an energetic crowd and an intimate setting make Wente an incredible venue to play at. We always love coming to play here.”

“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to team up with Foothill HS of Pleasanton, and we realize how much hard work goes into coordinating this, so we were ecstatic to partner with this young, talented choir."

Koobatian commented on the experience with Foreigner:

“It was surreal for me. I loved Foreigner growing up. I saw them in the 80s at Day on the Green with Journey when I was in high school.

The kids' parents and I were the ones that were most excited going into it. But after most of the show was over when I rounded them up to go on stage, they came out so excited. They were saying, ‘Thank you so much for this opportunity--this is such an awesome concert and we are having so much fun!’

For me, it was amazing to share that experience with them. I love my kids so much. I have had a rough year with my health. I've been battling cancer for over six years and back in March I almost didn't make it. I was on a ventilator for four days with a 50-50 chance of making it. Knowing I was coming back to them really helped heal me. After missing so much of our school year being in the hospital, it was great to be able to add something like this to our performance schedule. Thanks so much to KKIQ for making this happen for us--it was an all around amazing experience!”

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