Angie Starr Interview with Detroit Youth Choir Director Anthony White

Beasley Digital

A Zoom interview with the Director of the Detroit Youth Choir. He talks about the upcoming Disney Plus series coming soon. Also spoke about upcoming information about The DYC.

Transcript

00:00Hey, look at you. I need to be like you, get my dude. That's what I'm talking about.

00:08How are you, Angie Star? I am great. That's great multitasking. That's what I'm talking about.

00:14You gotta do two or three things at the same time. That's how we do. That's how we do.

00:20All right, I gotta start off. Congratulations! Yay! Disney! What's wrong with Disney?

00:30Well, the Disney Plus experience is something new, something very new.

00:37You know, we're a youth choir, so what youth choir actually get a show on Disney Plus, you know?

00:46But we are working on a deal right now, and, you know, it's kind of under wraps, but it's supposed to be a six-episode...

00:56Oh, so we shouldn't be talking about this on radio?

00:58No, no, no. We can't. That's fine.

01:00Okay. Yep. A six-episode docu-series. The name of it is called Choir.

01:07Right.

01:07And also, they're going to do a scripted series with showrunner Anthony Sparks from Queen Sugar.

01:19Okay.

01:20Yep. So, we are very excited as an organization. And guess what?

01:26We just received a nomination for a Stella Award.

01:30Wow!

01:32I just found that out yesterday.

01:34Yay! Oh, my goodness.

01:37I just really found that out.

01:40Wow! Congratulations! It's just... It's flowing. But you guys work hard, and you deserve it.

01:46Thank you so much.

01:47Detroit strong. That's what I'm talking about.

01:49Okay. So, let's go back in time a little bit. You guys win America's Got Talent, correct?

01:56Yes. America's Got Talent.

01:58Two years ago.

01:59You were in the second place. John Steele won. Y'all won the hearts of Detroit, whatever.

02:03So, tell us just a little bit about that experience. After the fact, how has it impacted the kids?

02:11Well, of course, after America's Got Talent, the world kind of made a little shift because of COVID.

02:19Right.

02:20But I tell you, after the initial show, the kids were... We were on fire at that point.

02:28We were performing everywhere, doing everything around the city of Detroit, even performing in Las Vegas for a week.

02:38I saw that.

02:40Yes. We performed for Las Vegas for a solid week.

02:44And that was something big because I've never been to Las Vegas before.

02:49Okay.

02:50And when we came back to the city of Detroit, you're talking about a parade and everything, with the endowment and the key to the city.

03:01I mean, it was just phenomenal, and I really enjoyed that.

03:05Excellent. Excellent.

03:07So, okay, this new docuseries with Disney.

03:11Yeah.

03:11Have you guys started filming yet?

03:12Yes. We actually started a little less... We're actually over the COVID whole break, you know, between now and last March.

03:24We actually started a little bit of filming.

03:28We completed enough filming to have a small commercial.

03:34Really?

03:35Yes. It's called a sizzle reel.

03:37Sizzle reel. Right, right, right.

03:38Oh, you learned the terminology?

03:39Yeah, I'm trying to learn. I'm trying to learn, you know.

03:42I love it.

03:44But the sizzle reel is out, but I don't think they gave me permission to release it.

03:49Okay.

03:50But then they came back a few months ago to start shooting our auditions.

03:55Yep, and so they'll be back in the fall.

03:58No, actually, they're coming in June again.

04:03And after June, they're coming in September.

04:06And that's when everything is going to take off.

04:09Wow.

04:09Now, can you tell us a little bit about what we might see?

04:13Or you can't...

04:13Okay, go ahead.

04:14Okay, so what you're going to see on this docu-series is the process.

04:21Like, what makes the Detroit Youth Choir do what they do?

04:25They're going to see me doing crazy things, acting crazy, being a choir director.

04:33They're going to see some of our staff, some of our wonderful staff doing what they do.

04:39And also, they're going to see the kids be kids.

04:44They're going to see them enjoy music.

04:47They're going to see them enjoy the city of Detroit like they all do.

04:52And...

04:52Oh, yeah, I'm sorry.

04:56Yeah.

04:56Go ahead, multitasker.

04:59They're going to also see the young people, you know, just singing and enjoying life through music, pretty much.

05:08Oh, yes.

05:09You know, they just did a documentary, and I want to say for real, was in charge of it.

05:15And I want to...

05:16Yeah, and that was just...

05:18I watched it, I think, two times.

05:20Oh, wow.

05:20Because I just truly enjoy the art of a choir.

05:24Like, it's a technique.

05:25It's not something easy.

05:27You got to know what you're doing to put that together.

05:30You do.

05:31And the Detroit Youth Choir, it's a lot of elements involved.

05:35Right.

05:35You know, you have the parents.

05:37You have the kids, and you also...

05:40And all of that sometimes is a handful.

05:45And what Disney Plus is trying to really capture is what it takes to be the best youth choir in the state of Michigan.

05:53You know, we're a non-profit organization.

05:58So, put it out there now.

06:00We're always looking for grants.

06:02Okay.

06:03We're always in need of donations, even though we do have incoming funds.

06:09Yes, you do, because I want a job.

06:12Okay, come on in.

06:14Come on in.

06:14But we got radio into your filming, for real.

06:20I'm going to bring Mason, I promise.

06:22We'll come into a pep talk.

06:24I love...

06:25Mason actually introduced us a few times when we performed down at the Little Caesars Arena.

06:32Yeah.

06:33Yeah.

06:34Can I be Italian and talk to them?

06:36Yeah.

06:38Hey.

06:38I told you, I got you.

06:40Yeah.

06:41I told you.

06:42But we want to make this series not only for the youth choir, but for the city of Detroit.

06:49Yes.

06:51I want people to know that Detroit is not guns and violence and people on the street doing all types of stuff.

07:00You know, there will be some gems in this documentary series.

07:08So, that's why it means so much to us.

07:12Wow.

07:12And it means so much to us.

07:13Now that we're doing mornings now, our whole focus is local Detroit.

07:19I have waited for this moment.

07:21And I told you when we talked before.

07:23Yeah, yeah, yeah.

07:24You're at the top of my list.

07:26And as soon as I...

07:27Marcus, as soon as I got this opportunity, right?

07:29Yep.

07:30As soon as we got it.

07:31We got it right on.

07:32Okay.

07:32So, we'll shine together.

07:34All right?

07:35And anything that you need promoted, whatever, you got Marcus's number.

07:39Marcus, please give him my number and...

07:41I got you.

07:42We got you.

07:43All right?

07:44One thing, let me mention that we have three choirs now.

07:49Wow.

07:50The world actually knows that one group of 52 kids.

07:54Right.

07:55But we have to break everybody up into three separate choirs because of COVID, right?

08:00Right.

08:01Well, we have the...

08:03Well, the Limelight Choir is our youngest choir.

08:06They have a show coming up in May.

08:08And our center stage and primetime choirs will have a concert.

08:14Actually, we're doing Black on Broadway.

08:17It's called Black.

08:18We're doing that in June.

08:20Okay?

08:21It might be pre-recorded or whatever, but we're going to do that show.

08:25Okay.

08:26So, you know we're going to promote it.

08:28Both of them.

08:29So, you let us know.

08:30Okay?

08:31But I just...

08:31Before we go, because you're such a gift from God, and God does not, and I'm speaking from

08:36my heart right now, He does not just put anybody in charge of His babies like that.

08:41And to give you the national spotlight, I know we really like you.

08:45So, what is it like to be Anthony White right now?

08:50I mean...

08:50It's very busy for me.

08:53You know, I'm not only a choir director of 100-plus young people, I'm also a music instructor

09:02in Oak Park School District, and I do have the little face mask here.

09:09So, when I go to work in the morning, I wake up, I'm on Zoom for eight hours, and then I

09:17go to rehearsal for another five hours.

09:19So, that's how Mr. White relaxed.

09:24That's how I relaxed.

09:25Detroit Youth Choir is how I relaxed.

09:27Really?

09:28So, that's relaxation for you.

09:30That's relaxation.

09:31And it's a chance for me to be creative.

09:35Things that I can't do in the school, I can do with the Detroit Youth Choir.

09:40Have you always been in choirs?

09:42Well, you know, I started choir singing around age 11, 12.

09:49What church?

09:51It wasn't a church.

09:52It was actually...

09:53Okay, Greater Grace Church, right?

09:57They had...

09:58Oh, Schaefer or the new one?

09:59The Schaefer.

10:00The original.

10:01The original.

10:03I went to their elementary and middle school when I was in elementary and middle school.

10:09Is that your neighborhood?

10:11Huh?

10:11Yeah, that's my neighborhood.

10:12That's my neighborhood.

10:13I used to live off war.

10:15Really?

10:15Yeah, it ain't mine, y'all.

10:18Wow.

10:18I was like, you know that's my hood?

10:20I didn't know that was your hood.

10:21Wow.

10:22Okay, good.

10:24Well, I stayed on Schaefer and Seven Mile.

10:27Woo!

10:28Wee, wee!

10:29Yes!

10:31Woo!

10:32Right there.

10:33Okay.

10:33So, I actually went to that school, and I had a wonderful music teacher by the name

10:41of William Duncan, and Mr. Duncan actually taught me how to love music and how to appreciate

10:48music, and from then on, I kind of, I was inspired by the Boys Bar of Harlem, and from

10:55then, I went to Marigold College, got my music degree.

10:59Me too!

11:00But you put the Marigold?

11:00Oh!

11:01Yes!

11:04Well, we're, we're-

11:05I was a professor there.

11:06I don't know if you knew Mr. High.

11:07He did radiology there.

11:09That was my dad.

11:10Really?

11:11Yeah, but go ahead.

11:13Wow.

11:13So, look.

11:15Okay.

11:15You're a family now.

11:16So, um, I graduated from Marigold, and I just started working little ins and out odd jobs,

11:23and then I started directing, and it's, it's been a process, and now I can sit back and

11:29say that, um, being a part of the Detroit Youth Choir as a director has really changed

11:36my life, and it, it changed the lives of people around us.

11:39Wow.

11:40So, listen, I've got parents listening, watching this, because we're going to promote it, and

11:45they're going to watch it.

11:46Yeah.

11:47Donations.

11:47How could anybody, how can anybody in Detroit help you?

11:51How?

11:52How can they, they just want to help you because they know that you are such a gift to the city.

11:56How can they help you?

11:58Okay.

11:58First of all, I want everybody to go to their Instagram and Twitter and follow DYC on those

12:06platforms.

12:07It's at DYC official.

12:10Okay.

12:10Also, they can go to our website and, uh, donate.

12:15Uh, our website is DetroitYouthChoir.org, and, uh, there's a donate button, and guess what?

12:21It's our 25th year.

12:23Yep.

12:24This is our silver anniversary night.

12:27What better time to donate, right?

12:29That's right.

12:29So, uh, we're trying to, we're trying to raise $250,000 in 25 weeks.

12:35$250,000.

12:39Do you have a press release or anything on that?

12:41Oh, we can get, we can get whatever you need.

12:44We can get.

12:44Yeah, to Marcus.

12:45Because we want to do a post about this with this?

12:47Yeah.

12:47Okay.

12:48Yes.

12:48All right.

12:50Uh, my manager, Lavelle Nero, he'll, he'll get that together.

12:53Your manager?

12:54Yeah.

12:55This is good.

12:55I got to catch up.

12:57Look, we never had a manager, so I'm kind of, I'm kind of proud to say we got a manager.

13:02That's right.

13:04Yes.

13:04So.

13:04Okay.

13:05So, Anthony, Anthony, we family now.

13:10We, I'm talking about we family, a mile, right in the same.

13:15Wow.

13:16Okay.

13:17Look, come and visit us, and guess what?

13:19We are located on the campus of Marygrove College.

13:23Are you?

13:24I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

13:25Yeah.

13:26Yeah.

13:26Okay.

13:28Yeah.

13:28Yes, we are located on the campus of Marygrove College, um, inside of the Madam Cadillac building.

13:34You remember the old Madam.

13:35That's the way you're talking about.

13:36Okay.

13:37Okay.

13:38Yep, that's where we live.

13:40That's where we live.

13:41So, I got to ask, have you ever sung in the church, you know, where the big organ is in

13:45there?

13:46With the, you know where?

13:47Oh, yeah.

13:48What was that like?

13:50It was, it was amazing, because, you know, I was part of the Chamber Singers, uh, when

13:54Marygrove was in the college.

13:56And, and check this out.

13:57I actually started a choir on campus called Soulful Expressions.

14:03Okay.

14:04And we sung around.

14:05Now, we even went to, uh, Monroe, Michigan, to perform for the Nuns.

14:10Really?

14:11So, because you know the story.

14:12Yes.

14:13Yes.

14:13So, I, I have a little, I have a little lineage in, in the city of Detroit that a lot of people

14:19think I just came out the sky, right?

14:21But, I've been proud of you for a while.

14:24You've been here.

14:25Yeah.

14:25But we family now, so you, you in.

14:27So.

14:27Visit.

14:28Please come visit.

14:29I got you.

14:30I got you.

14:31You don't even know.

14:32You don't even know.

14:33You don't even know.

14:34You don't even know.

14:35You don't even know.

14:36You don't even know.

14:37You don't even know.

14:38You don't even know.

14:39You don't even know.

14:40You don't even know.

14:41You don't even know.

14:42You don't even know.

14:43You don't even know.

14:44You don't even know.

14:45You don't even know.

14:46You don't even know.

14:47You don't even know.

14:48You don't even know.

14:49You don't even know.

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