Sea Star Academy Joins Josh Groban at David Foster & Friends
On Saturday, August 8, Victoria's Inner Harbour became one big concert hall. Tens of thousands of people filled the harbour and the B.C. Legislature grounds for David Foster & Friends, a free concert celebrating the David Foster Foundation's 40th anniversary, and our very own Sea Star Academy was invited to join! Our oldest Sea Star Academy students and teachers performed in front of 70,000 people alongside singing and musical theatre legend Josh Groban!
The lineup was extraordinary. Joining David Foster and Josh Groban were Katharine McPhee, CeeLo Green, The Tenors, Pia Toscano, Daniel Emmet, Loren Allred, Sheléa and Sydnie Christmas! But the evening was about much more than the music. The David Foster Foundation supports Canadian families whose children need life-saving organ transplants, and four decades of that work is what brought everyone together.
Sharing the Stage with Josh Groban
We got to sing two iconic songs with Josh Groban, "Skyfall" and "You Raise Me Up." As we sang, thousands in the audience lit up the harbour with their phone flashlights. The Times Colonist even named our young singers in their red and white robes the night's standout moment!
Then there's what the audience didn't see. We had the best seats in the house, right backstage. We met every performer, and so many of them encouraged our young artists to keep chasing their dreams. It was BEYOND inspiring! And when the drone show lit up the sky alongside the fireworks, we watched it standing next to David Foster and his lineup of performers. What?! It may have been one of the best nights of all our lives.
Real Training. Real Stage Opportunities.
Our students and teachers showed up to every rehearsal, learned incredibly difficult four-part harmonies, and stepped onto a stage beside one of the most successful vocalists in the world. They sang with focus, heart, and joy. This is exactly what we mean when we talk about giving young performers real training and real stage opportunities!
"In all my years of performing and teaching, I've never experienced anything like it. Watching our students stand on that stage, holding their own beside Josh Groban in front of 70,000 people, is something I'll carry with me forever, and I know they will too."
— Charlotte, Founder & Director, Sea Star Productions
A Full-Circle Moment
There's a lovely full-circle moment here, too. Josh Groban's career began when David Foster discovered him as a teenager. Seeing a group of young singers share the stage with Josh, at David's own celebration in his hometown, felt like that story coming around again.
To our Sea Star Academy students: you were remarkable. To your families. thank you for the rehearsals, rides, and snacks that made it all possible. And to David Foster, the David Foster Foundation team, and Josh Groban we would love to say a big thank you for a night we'll never forget.
Here's to the next generation of performers. We can't wait to see where the music takes them.
