Barrington High madrigals to sing at White House

A staple of the Barrington tree-lighting ceremony each year is a performance by the high school's madrigal singers.

This year, the group will be noticeably smaller than usual.

Twenty of Barrington High School's madrigal singers will continue the school's tradition of performing in prominent locations when they travel to Washington, D.C., this weekend to sing for the White House staff.

"I am so thrilled to be able to have this opportunity," said senior Anne Cutler.

The group will leave today and perform during the annual White House Staff Holiday Open House on Saturday.

On Sunday, the group will perform at several locations, including St. John's Cathedral and the Army Navy Officers' Club.

While Barrington choral groups have performed all over the world, including stops in Prague, Vienna and the famed Sydney Opera House, Barrington High School choral director Nancie Tobison said this is the first time the home of the president extended an invitation.

"We have sung in a lot of important places, but never the White House," Tobison said.

At the start of the school year, Tobison said a mother of one of the students suggested they try to play at the White House this year.

Having been a longtime teacher of the daughter of Henry Paulson, a Barrington alum and current U.S. Treasury secretary, she contacted her former pupil for some advice.

About a week later, Henry Paulson called Tobison to tell her about the prominent White House parties where choral groups are invited to perform.

Tobison said they decided to apply and earlier this month the school got word it was one of just a handful of groups being asked to perform on Saturday.

"I realize this is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime performance," said senior Kelly Miller.

Senior Mac Dassatti said he is thrilled to be going on the trip.

"I started thinking about it last night and I couldn't fall asleep for another two hours," Dassatti said.

Those who are attending Barrington's tree-lighting ceremony Saturday evening should not worry about missing the madrigals.

Tobison said the sophomore madrigals will be on hand to sing.

This will not be the only major performance for some of these students this year.

Next summer, Tobison and about half of the students who are performing at the White House will be traveling to China to sing in the Olympics' Fine Arts Festival prior to the start of the 2008 Summer Games.

"It is going to be a great year," Tobison said.