Choir from Chippewa Falls Shares the Stage with Foreigner at NW State Fair

CHIPPED FALLS, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – When Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members, Foreigner, performed at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair, they were accompanied by a group of local children. A regional radio competition allowed the Chippewa Falls High School (Chi Hi) Choir to fulfill their aspiration. Student Maddie Johnson shared, "We had four practice sessions at our school. We put in a lot of effort during each one, which made us extremely eager for the show. I'm experiencing both thrill and anxiety. It’s amazing to be performing with a rock band, something everyone would love, but being under the spotlight with thousands of spectators does feel different."

Rachel McIlquham, the Chi Hi choir instructor, said, "I believe what's really exciting about this is how connected it becomes, not just because of the way the competition was structured, where people could vote for the choir. You were able to witness the support through the numbers."

Jeff Pilson performs bass guitar for the band Foreigner. He mentions that bringing choral groups onto the stage is their method of endorsing a larger purpose. "I began my journey in public school music programs right here in Wisconsin, making it very significant to me. This is indeed an important evening for me because of that."

For him, this is also an individual gesture of generosity. "We invite these choirs partially because we want to strongly highlight that school education, particularly music instruction within schools, holds significant value. When financial issues arise, such programs are often among the first to be cut. That's truly unfortunate, as research has shown that children involved in music tend to perform better across all other areas."

A member of Foreigner contributes funds to musical initiatives such as the program at Chi Hi and encourages local groups to urge lawmakers to support the arts, ensuring future generations can also enjoy music. Pilson stated, "Similar to how parents, grandparents, and others might say 'I grew up listening to Foreigner. I attended their concert when I was 17.' Then watching children who are 17 singing the same songs that those individuals cherished growing up is truly impressive. Music has a wonderful ability to connect different age groups. I believe this is an effective way for a society to bond, and what our world needs most right now is greater harmony."

The performance has to continue at all times. Hopefully, it will keep going forward with additional methods of demonstrating affection for the arts.

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