Video Highlights of Student Talent at Defying Epilepsy Concert

There was a full house at Oak Forest High School on March 7th, 2019. The audience buzzed with excitement awaiting the curtain to be drawn and the concert, Defying Epilepsy, to begin. As the lights dimmed and the curtain opened, Mr. Blakely, a favorite teacher at Oak Forest High School and the Master of Ceremony for the night, took center stage.

He began the concert highlighting the very important cause that the concert was raising funds for. The concert was titled "Defying Epilepsy". The concert was not only to raise funds for the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicagoland but to shine a spotlight on this debilitating disorder that many do not understand and to honor Conor Morrissey.

I just would like to note here that I am not a professional videographer by any means and some of the video is not the best. Please watch with this in mind.

The Concert began with the entire Oak Forest and Tinley Park High School's Choir Departments with a moving rendition of Seize the Day from the musical Newsies. Devon Steffan and Preston Burns had solos in the song.

Next up was Tea Nowlan who sang On My Own beautifully from the musical Les Miserable.

Maddie McErlean and Olivia Lugo sang the duet of Found/Tonight from Hamilton in beautiful unison. I am so sorry I did not get any video of them, they were wonderful. If anyone has video, please let me know so I can include it.

Next the audience was entertained by the Cadet Choir with You'll Be Back from Hamilton with a solo from Chase Fannin.

Jake Kamper then performed the classic If I Were a Rich Man from Fiddler on the Roof.

The audience was then delighted to hear Maggie Garner perform Summertime from Porgy and Bess by the accompaniment of the amazing and talented Oak Forest Jazz Band.

The audience was then wowed by Kinsey Carrera with the song Feelin' Good from the Smell of the Grease the Roar of the Crowd which was also accompanied by the Oak Forest Jazz Band.

We then got to hear Olivia Earll and Makenzie Barnes sing Love Who You Love with dancers Hayleigh Kemnic and Jordan Solnar.

Emma Davidson then sang the upbeat and fun song, Another Hundred People, from the musical Company.

The Vocal Show Ensemble then sang The Greatest Show from the Greatest Showman with a solo by Mackenzie Barnes.

Then Maddie McLauglin and Carolina Padilla sang Who Will Love Me as I am from the musical sideshow. And please note, sorry about the horrible video, I was trying to get both of the young ladies when they sang and it is not as easy as it looks. I am glad the audio turned out. They sang beautifully together.

Alyssa Ryan next took the stage with a beautiful rendition of Burn from Hamilton.

The Senior Treble Group sang Girls Gone by ABBA Mamma Mia.

Brooke Lauer then entertained with her rendition of Memory from the musical Cats.

Myriam Melidona sang I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserable.

The Tinley Park High School Concert Choir performed a mash up of Get Ready and Dancin' In The Street with Solos from Patricio Aranda and Chloe Price.

Canyon Novick took the stage next and sang Hard to be the Bard in a great show from the musical Something Rotten. I did not get video of him because of camera problems and it is a shame because he was great and if anyone has video please let me know so I can include it.

The Oak Forest Concert Choir then sang the infamous song A Chorus Line.

Kinsey Carrera, a senior and 4 year veteran of the Oak Forest Music Department sang a beautiful presentation of the song Defying Gravity from Wicked which really summed up the entire night of a beautiful production of songs and performances by all the talented young musical talent from Oak Forest High School and Tinley Park High School for a wonderful community event.

This concert was more than just a culmination of the amazing talent that is obvious in our high school musical students, it was to raise funds for Camp Blackhawk, to bring awareness to Epilepsy and to honor the legacy of Conor Morrissey. Conor was an alumni of Oak Forest High School and a beloved brother, son and friend of many in Oak Forest and this special night was brought together to shine a spot light on his life.

The $1,700 that was raised from the concert will go to Camp Blackhawk which was very special to Conor. Camp Blackhawk is a camp hosted by the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicagoland which is special to kids with epilepsy. It gives kids a chance to spend time with other kids with epilepsy with no shame, no secrets and no worries.

Sadly, Conor passed away at the young age of 23 in 2017 from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy from a seizure. The Morrissey Family, consisting of Conor's mother, Anne, father, David, his brothers, Ronan and Nolan and sister, Breanne, was in attendance and was presented with the check for $1,700 that was raised in Conor's Name.

There were many people that collaborated to make this night so special for our community. First and foremost, Mr. Victor Pazik, the Director of Choirs is so instrumental in all the music programs, that he has become synonymous with the Oak Forest Choir. He is just amazing, always teaching, guiding and encouraging all his students.

Also Matt Koii was the accompanist for almost all of the songs, Mr. Rojek, the Director of Bands was responsible for the amazing Jazz Band, Edgar Gonzalez and his student technical crew worked hard behind the scenes with all the sound and lights and Andrea Collier was the Choreographer.

And finally the students who helped organize this event were: Alyssa Ryan, Myriam Melidona, Annais Gangolf, Molly Kiley, Kinsey Carrera, Maggie Garner, Nathan Fedorenko and Jennifer Silva. And last but not least, Larissa Brumlow, Mr. Blakley, Mr. Chambers, Mrs. Harri-Sumida were also instrumental on the success of this fantastic event. Bravo to everyone involved in this night which was an overwhelming outpouring of talent, support and love for and from our community.

Below is a list of all the talented students involved in this event.

VOSHO

• Kinsey Carrera
• Kylie Dwyer
• Maggie Garner
• Jordan Jones
• Breanna Jozaitis
• Grace Kaley
• Hayleigh Kemnic
• Tea Nowlan
• Alexis Taylor
• Anna Triezenberg
• Mackenzie Barnes
• Natasha DeLion
• Shannon Leatherman
• Alyssa Pacella
• Olivia Earll
• Alyssa Ryan
• Olivia Pedersen
• Griffin Boger
• Olivia Lugo
• Alex Nieszel
• Jake Kamper
• Canyon Novick
• Antwhan Rice
• Jeff Willeford

SENIOR TREBLE

• Kinsey Carrera
• Skylar Gibbs
• Paige Goodman
• Grace Kaley
• Hayleigh Kemnic
• Ariella Pacaro
• Lillian Pirolli
• Destinee Hendershot
• Rosemary Regan-Howard
• Jennifer Barlog
• Natasha DeLion
• Jenna Dennis
• Kelly Doyle
• Celeste Ramos
• Cali Huerta
• Tabi Jones
• Maddie McErlean
• Ayomide Osinowo
• Molly Schied
• Carly Vidovic
• Adriana Aguirre
• Kate Cabrera
• Codie Hoop
• Samantha Miller
• Alyssa Pacella
• Amanda Ashmore
• Mia DeLeo
• Brooke Hale
• Julia McMahon
• Destiny Skelnik
• Erin Speaker

TITAN CONCERT CHOIR

• Tiara Ball
• Hayleigh Uthe
• Melony Fedro
• Trinity Glass
• Zoie Gray
• Talia Kirksey
• Brooke Lauer
• Christina Lundeen
• Madison McLaughlin
• Carolina Padilla
• Jazmine parker
• Hannah Perisin
• Mera Shafie
• Jenna Sanberg
• Aliehs Smith
• Olivia Walker
• Phaul Barner
• Alina Choughale
• Alyiah Danahy
• Dan Cruz
• Haneen Husein
• Katrina Konrath
• Faith Perkins
• Jasmine Schott
• Jennifer Silva
• Nicole Susnis
• Chloe Price
• Patricio Aranda
• Preston Burns
• Eric Allen
• Lilly Joy

CONCERT CHOIR

• Kinsey Carrera
• Myckenzie Conway
• Jordan Jones
• Molly Kiley
• Maddie McErlean
• Myriam Melidona
• Alyssa Pacella
• Catherin Petit
• Juliana Ramirez
• Alyssa Ryan
• Shealyn Scott
• Anna Triezenberg
• Mackenzie Barnes
• Isabelle Deane
• Emma Davidson
• Olivia Earll
• Tea Nowlan
• Olivia Pedersen
• Shannon Leatherman
• Jaelyn White
• Griffin Boger
• Christian Costello
• Keyon Epps
• Olivia Lugo
• Tyler Pajic
• Paul Zacharopoulos
• Michael Browne
• Nathan Fedorenko
• Alvaro J. Munoz
• Doug Racine
• Eian Tapia

CADET CHOIR

• Meghan Cahill
• Arlene Davalos
• Lily Romano
• Madison Edge
• Lauren Eifel
• Taylor Haynes
• Tabi Jones
• Sylvia Loew
• Julie Marr
• Andrea Nunez
• Kathy Pacheco
• Alexys Dowling
• Maddie Crosetto
• Nikki Gedrimas
• Payton Goodman
• Nancy Hernandez
• Autumn Kleber
• Chloe Lange
• Makayla McDaniel
• Selena Sanchez
• Addi Silhi
• Victoria Sliwa
• Jordan Solner
• Jenna Theunnissen
• Danielle Worthan
• Chase Fannin
• Patrick Johnson
• Carter Boger
• Justin Jones
• Juan Parra
• Mayweather Shorter
• Devin Steffan
• Joel Melidona