Beatboxing for the Special Olympics
A church in Lakeville is looking to mix beatboxing and fellowship in order to raise money for Special Olympics.
Evergreen Church, 16165 Kenwood Trail, will hold a fundraising concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 14, featuring the vocal stylings of an a capella group backed with the intensity of vocal percussion.
Modern beatboxing came out of the projects of Brooklyn, N.Y., in the early 1980s. Hip-hop practitioners would manipulate percussion and vinyl-scratching sounds using their mouths while a partner would sing or rap over the beat.
Over time its influence spilled over into the pop music sphere, partially thanks to Justin Timberlake (who beatboxed with boy band ‘NSYNC and in his solo work).
Julia McClellan is a singer and an avowed beatboxer. Ten years ago, said Julia’s mother, Sally, Julia befriended a boy named Brandon Wittrock, who has cerebral palsy. Julia got involved with Special Olympics, helping Wittrock prepare for his participation in the track events.
After volunteering for years, Julia, on the advice of a singing coach who asked her: “What are you going to do with your talent?” decided to leverage it to help Special Olympics.
She has compiled a cadre of performers to help put on the fundraising concert – singing coach Andy Miller; her brother, John; Jon McNelis; Kristine Hildrebrand; Maria Percoraro and Louis Camacho.
Another of Julia’s brothers, Dan, designed the promotional materials.
The group will sell their CDs for $5 at the event. Tickets are $12 or $22 per family. Proceeds from the event will be directed toward helping families participate in the Special Olympics’s dozens of athletic events.
