Jubilee Chorale at the White House
In 1997, Williamsburg’s Emilio Pesante, then a student in Christopher Newport University’s music program, went to a music festival called Fiestaval in Myrtle Beach, SC. He was there to shadow his mentor since fourth grade, Warhill High’s current Choir Director Lisa Stone.
He must have been taking good notes that day because, on Wednesday, Pesante led his own choir from Woodside High to the White House to perform for President Barack Obama and his guests. He entered a contest about a year ago to have one of Woodside’s singing groups, Jubilee Chorale, perform at the White House for the President and a group that helped in his reelection campaign.
Pesante thought he had missed the deadline and didn’t expect to hear back about the contest, until he received an email from the White House in October. Two months later, he and members of the Chorale were waiting in the Diplomatic Reception Room between sets.
They were watching a door where they were told Obama would arrive any minute. Instead, he entered from the opposite side of the room.
“He just kind of burst in,” Pesante said with a laugh.
Obama, he said, was “charismatic and down-to-earth.” He chatted about the holidays, his daughter and joked he put up all the White House Christmas decorations by himself. He also told the kids to watch out for the cookies because they turn tongues black. Not to worry, he said while sticking out his tongue, it’s not permanent.
“He was just so much fun,” Pesante said.
After their chat with Obama, it was time to perform another set. Many of Obama’s guests stopped to listen to Jubilee Chorale, including Bill Nye the Science Guy.
A video of the Jubilee Chorale performing “The First Noelle” at the White House can be found on the Woodside Chorus’ Facebook page here.
The White House concert is not the only triumph Pesante can boast for his music direction: Choirs at Woodside have also received a “superior” rating at a contest at Disney World, taken first and second place trophies in last year’s Fiestaval in New York and were named “Grand Champions” at the 2011 Fiestaval, sweeping in all categories.
Pesante is a quintessential local. He was born in the Williamsburg area, went to high school at Lafayette, to college in Newport News, he coordinates the City of Williamsburg’s Summer Youth Achievement Program and his daughter is a fourth generation Matthew Whaley student.
He said his inspiration as director has come from his parents, the late Virginia and Bob Pesante, his family — who all live in the Williamsburg area — and, of course, Lisa Stone.
“She always told me to work hard and trust my gut,” he said.
In April, Pesante will head back to where his training as a choir director began 16 years ago – the Myrtle Beach Fiestaval where he shadowed Stone. On days ahead of the competition spent in his office, a reminder of where he got his principles as director sits on a shelf behind him. It’s a trophy – “Most Likely to Succeed.” Stone gave it to him in 1990.