Choir teacher seeking music videos

Oak Harbor High School choir teacher Darren McCoy is reaching out to high school staff, students, parents and alumni for the making of “When Arts Collide 2,” a music video.

McCoy is asking for participants to submit photos of themselves doing something they love or a recording of them singing or playing “A Million Dreams” from “The Greatest Showman.”

“I think the music speaks to people’s hopes for the future,” McCoy said, which is what the community needs during these uncertain coronavirus times.

Submissions can be photos of art that participants have created or photos of participants doing something they love over the last two years such as cooking, playing at a sport event, acting, sailing or community service projects.

“This is anybody who wants to submit artwork or pictures of what they’re doing to bring joy to other people,” McCoy said. He advises participants taking new photos to observe social distancing guidelines.

He doesn’t want the video be just another virtual choir.

“I want to include the art department and our students who aren’t around,” he said.

He is also looking for audio and video submissions of participants singing or playing “A Million Dreams.” Singers have two parts that are divided between high voices and low voices, and sheet music is available on the project’s Google site. Instrumental music submissions will be available on April 10.

The deadline to submit is May 8, and the video will be released in either June or July, depending on how many submissions he receives.

“Some people will submit a wonderful recording,” he said. “Some will submit a recording that might have to be edited or we will have to ask for better photos.”

He said most iPhones have decent cameras and mics, but if participants want to use a higher quality mic that is acceptable. He stressed that participants should practice singing or playing the song before they submit.

To receive sheet music and submission details, visit https://sites.google.com/site/oakharborchoirs/when-arts-collide-2