AASA’s Singing Superintendents will perform at the 2019 National Conference on Education in Los Angeles by opening the 3rd General Session on Saturday morning, Feb. 16.

The Singing Superintendents will begin their concert on a patriotic note with the “Star-Spangled Banner” and “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor.”

The 20-minute program always features songs with a connection to the conference’s host city. Last year, the conference took place in Nashville, so there was a country medley. This year, with the conference in Los Angeles, the focus will be on music celebrating Hollywood such as the classic “Hurray for Hollywood.”

David Cox, AASA Executive Committee member and superintendent of Allegany County Public Schools in Cumberland, Md., will direct the group for the seventh consecutive year.

A former music teacher and school band director, Cox performed with the Singing Superintendents for more than a decade before assuming leadership of the group.

“You can never be too old or too young to enjoy music,” said Cox in an interview with Conference Daily Online. “I encourage anyone who appreciates how music contributes to public education in America’s schools to join us [at the closing general session].”

The Singing Superintendents will be accompanied on piano by Barry Furze, a retired South Dakota superintendent. Benny Gooden, retired superintendent of the Fort Smith Public Schools in Arkansas and the former leader of Singing Superintendents, will join the performers this year.

The Singing Superintendents welcome any conference participant who is interested to join rehearsals, which are slated for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14, and Friday, Feb. 15, at JW Marriott in Plaza III. A final rehearsal is set for 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16 before the 3rd General Session.

(Rebecca Shaw is a reporter for Conference Daily Online.)