Many students in the Bach Chorale Performing Arts Workshop took the title of Melissa Etheridge's Oscar-winning song "I Need to Wake Up" to heart Wednesday when the recording artist walked into their choir room."It was surreal," said Danica Craig, a 14-year-old show choir student from Monon. "It was really one of those musical moments."
High school students in the workshop have spent the week rehearsing Etheridge's song. Eric Van Cleave, who's directing the Bach Chorale program, created a special choral arrangement of the tune.
Workshop coordinator Marcy Miller, who is friends with Etheridge, said she arranged the singer's visit and kept it secret from the students and local media.
"She said she was interested in sharing with the kids," Miller said. "We wanted this to be about the kids and for the kids, not a media event."
Etheridge spent about an hour visiting with the students.
She sang and played guitar with the group as they sang "I Need to Wake Up" and then previewed the song "Heroes and Friends" from her upcoming album, The Awakening.
Jefferson High School junior Miles Gresham-Miller, 16, said Etheridge talked about the importance of staying true to who you are. He said singing with the performer was unforgettable. "That was a really great moment," he said. "Something I'm personally going to remember for the rest of my life."
Craig agreed and said the experience brought tears to her eyes.
"She really inspired all of us," she said. "It's just amazing. She taught us you can do anything you set your mind to."
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