TSP Media - Corgan to perform at Neuqua Valley

Corgan to perform at Neuqua Valley
By Kari Allen Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Tuesday, May 11, 2004

When famous musicians want to play in an intimate setting, they usually opt for venues like the House of Blues,
Metro or The Vic.

Neuqua Valley High School's auditorium will get its moment in the spotlight May 25.

That's when musician Billy Corgan, former leader of the Smashing Pumpkins and Zwan,
will perform at the Naperville high school before about 900 music students, said Charles "Chip" Staley,
Neuqua music department chairman.

Corgan will perform and field questions from students before two school concerts that evening.
He'll also present the school with a prestigious Grammy Signature School Gold Award.

Only seven schools from across the country won such an award this school year, and Neuqua has
been a recipient three of the past four years.

Schools submitted repertoire listings, sample concert programs and recordings from live concerts
in 2003 to apply for the award. Gold Award-winning schools each receive $5,000 for their music programs.

"This brings to light that this is a huge honor for us to be selected as one of the top seven in the
country," Staley said.

The Grammy Foundation, which dishes out the awards, arranged for Corgan to visit Neuqua, Staley said.

The foundation also plans to get the school some tickets for students to meet Gwen Stefani and band
mates of No Doubt backstage before a concert next month at the Tweeter Center in Tinley Park, Staley said.

Meeting such musical powerhouses can have a huge effect on high school students, Staley said.

"The more you can humanize the profession, the more likely it is that people can envision
themselves in it," he said.

Staley hopes his students realize, upon listening to Corgan, a musician's life isn't all
glitz and glamour. They couldn't do what they do, he said, without a strong work ethic and commitment to their music.

"There is nothing easy about what they do," Staley said.

Corgan's performance and question-and-answer session is open just to Neuqua's music
department staff and music students. The school plans to ensure the event stays closed to the public.

Seeing a private Corgan performance will emphasize to music students how impressive their Gold Awards are,
Staley said.

"I know this is going to be a huge thing - this is an intimate setting for the music
students," he said. "How cool is that?"

Perform: Some students may get to meet No Doubt, too

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