Highlands Youth Ensemble members in 2017's "Easy Street"
The Highlands Youth Ensemble, the premier high school choir of the Mountain Empire Children's Choral Academy, performs its 12th annual Valentine Cabaret Sunday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. at the Gregory Center on the Milligan College campus, and again Monday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. on the Gilliam Stage at Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. These young singers present "Stepping Out" with a cabaret show, a dessert reception, a silent auction with gift baskets and a raffle. The dessert reception and silent auction begin one hour before show time.
MECCA Artistic Director Jane Morison says, "These singers are simply terrific, and they are ready to give you a special evening of entertainment. Come early and enjoy some refreshments while you peruse our silent auction and raffle items."
Morison also says that patrons this year should bring their checkbooks or credit cards for the silent auction/raffle. "HYE's Valentine Cabaret is MECCA's biggest fund-raiser of the year. Our supporters are so generous, both in donations of items to auction, and in support of all our programs. Our event grows every year, and this year's will be bigger and better than ever."
Tickets prices are varied at the venues and seating is limited. Reservations are encouraged for this show. For reservations go to www.meccacademy.org or call 423-913-4050.
Past Highlands Youth Ensemble honors include performances at the American Choral Directors Southern Division Conference, the Festival of the Aegean in Greece, Carnegie Hall, participation in the International Chamber Choir competition in Pécs, Hungary, and hosting an International Folksong Exchange. HYE singers were also invited back to Pécs, Hungary, as honored guests when Pécs received the designation, "European City of Culture" in the summer of 2010. HYE has collaborated with the Symphony of the Mountains, the Voices of the Mountains, The Civic Chorale and the Johnson City Symphony, and has been invited to sing for the Candlelight Christmas Evenings at the Biltmore Estate for the past 15 years. They annually send singers to honor choirs at the district, regional, state and national level, and count many Governor's School (both Tennessee and Virginia) designees in their number. HYE singers are consistently awarded the most prestigious scholarships, both in music and academics, at colleges and universities.
Visit www.meccacademy.org for more information about the Highlands Youth Ensemble and Mountain Empire Children's Choral Academy.
