VINTON, Va. (WDBJ) – For 16 years, Matt Bartley has directed the choir at William Byrd High School. His students have never sung anywhere bigger than a school auditorium — let alone for thousands of screaming fans, alongside rock and roll legends.
“This is one of those things that, when you sign up to be a teacher, you don’t really anticipate,” Bartley said.
A nearly 20-year tradition
It’s a nearly 20-year tradition. Wherever Foreigner tours, the band runs a radio contest, giving local choirs a shot to sing with them on stage, in this case, Wednesday night at the Salem Civic Center. So when it came time to submit an audition tape in the spring, these students didn’t hold back.
“Mr. Bartley was like, ‘Be passionate about it. Get into it. Really put your soul into it,’” senior Aubrey Blewett said. “We just had so much fun being able to do the audition.”…