For Herricks High School senior Andrew Greiche, singing on the stage of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry was the culmination of a musical marathon as a member of the All National Choir.
Greiche, one of the stars of this month’s Herricks production of The Music Man, was acutely aware of performing in the same space that Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and a host of country music legends had made famous.
“You performed where those famous people stood,” Greiche said, reflecting on the experience.
But the experience of reaching that stage remains just as vivid in Greiche’s memory. His performance with the choir was preceded by three intensive days of rehearsing seven pieces as one of 350 high school students selected across the U.S.
“It was astounding, the entire experience. It’s a whole different world,” the young baritone said. “It’s amazing to be part of so many kids from around the U.S. who share as strong a passion as you have.”
And while learning about the lives of students from such disparate locales as Alaska and Iowa, he also learned some valuable musical lessons.
During rehearsals preceding the climactic concert on Oct. 29, he recalled choir director Edith Copley’s emphasis on “connecting” with each piece of music and “acting inside it.”
“It’s important to engage with the piece itself,” Greiche said.
The rehearsals—more 15 hours during the two days before the concert—also gave the singers lessons in stamina. The pieces ranged from Bruckner’s “Ave Maria” to Jeffrey Ames’
“Rejoice” and the traditional American folk song “Shenandoah,” which the young men in the choir performed.
Singing in a choir with 350 singers required an adjustment for Greiche, who sings in the 39-member Herricks Chamber Choir, the high school’s elite choral group. Singing in a soft pianissimo is much different in a larger group.
“You really have to know how to control your voice, to control the dynamics to fit the piece,” he said.
The applause in the packed concert hall following the brief silence at the end of each piece was also a new experience.
“It’s an exhilarating feeling,” Greiche said.
He said he also thoroughly enjoyed hearing the note perfect performance of the U.S. Army Band and Soldiers Choir, who shared the bill with the select high school singers.
Greiche performed “This Nearly Was Mine” from the musical South Pacific as his audition video for the choir last summer. He qualified to apply based on performing in the New York All-State Choir last year.
Greiche, who played huckster Harold Hill in The Music Man as part of a uniformly strong cast, has played prominent roles in three other musicals, including Kiss Me Kate, How to
Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and in several other plays during his high school career. Since it was his last musical, he said The Music Man ranks as his favorite.
He’s planning on majoring in musical theater in college on the way to his goal of a lifelong career as an actor.
“I love the connection between the performer and the audience,” he said. “I love singing, acting and dancing, And to do all three at the same time is fun.”
He’s had an agent since his sophomore year and has been auditioning for parts over the past several months. That process has been interrupted by auditions for college.
“He’s ready for Broadway now,” said Herricks High School teacher Laura Latham after directing him in How to Succeed two years ago.
Thoroughly dedicated to honing his craft, Greiche has been training with vocal coach Tammy Hensrud for the past two years, while he’s also been taking classes at the American Dance Theater at the Herricks Community Center.
It’s all part of his plan in pursuit of a dream to reach the footlights of the Great White Way.
