SOUND OF AMERICA HONORS CHORUS
It could resemble a family tradition but it
really all comes down to the outstanding individual talents of 16-year-old
Tri-Valley Central School junior Ashley Exner who this summer will sing with the
Sound of America Honors Band/Chorus as they travel to Europe to perform across
six different countries.
Ashley follows her cousin, Regina Hartman, who sang with
this group in 1992 and her aunt, Erica Exner, who performed with this group in
1999
Clyde M. Barr, tour coordinator for the Sound of America
noted very strongly that acceptance for membership into the performing
organization, "is a distinguished honor," and "student musicians apply and are
auditioned and carefully screened so that only those students who display
excellent character and outstanding musical ability are chosen for
membership."
Barr noted, "we believe that this individual as a member of
our summer tour will be a credit to you, your community and to the United States
of America."
The Sound of America Honor Band & Chorus is celebrating
its 37th year in 2013 and is recognized as one of the finest and most successful
European Concert Tour programs in existence.
Ashley will embark on a 23-day concert tour on June 29 for
a concert tour of 22 concerts in Paris, Innsbruck, Venice, Verona and Luxembourg
and several other historic European cities.
An active member of the school's mixed chorus and band
Ashley is also a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) where she serves
as historian, a member of the Future Business Leaders of America ( FBLA) and
serves as Parliamentarian, a member of the Honor Roll for every marking period,
was a member of the National FFA Chorus this past October in Indiana, have been
a member of select choir and women's choir since ninth grade and has
participated in Area All-State, Conference All-State and Sullivan County
All-County Music festivals.
Ashley lives with her parents, Paul and Leah Exner and
brother, Andrew, near Grahamsville.
An Alto, Ashley studied three years with David Trombley and
Regina Hartman prepared her for singing with the National FFA chorus. Local
Tri-Valley Central School Vocal Musical Director Kevin Giroux has worked
providing excellent instructions for her area and all-state
singing.
A member of the school band flute section since the fourth
grade Ashley has also been active in many musicals and also in the Sullivan
County Dramatic Workshop.
Sports has also been an active part of Ashley's school
activities where she has played junior varsity and varsity basketball, softball
and soccer.
Her singing started at the age of five in her local church
and she often sings with her mother, Leah, who also plays the guitar at various
functions. Five years ago she created the Songs for Soup Charity which has been
copyrighted. Ashley sings at various organization where soup is donated and
Ashley then donates the soup to local food pantries through the support group
FFA.
Each participant in this event is expected to pay their own
expenses which are estimated to cost approximately $8,000. She just completed
the first of her fundraising events at McDonald's in Liberty where folks turned
in coupon's given them by Ashley and her family and 20 percent of all sales
that day with the coupon went to fund Ashley's trip. She plans other fund
raising events.
Donations for Ashley's trip are being accepted at
845-436-8407 and email at pexner@hvc.rr.com If you wish to claim a donation
through taxes you'll need to write Reference/Ashley Exner in the memo and write
it out to Sound of America, otherwise you can write a check out in her
name.
Ashley noted that she is able to meet anyone in person if
they would like her to explain any of the details and information on her
trip.
Ashley Exner
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