The UNC Asheville Singers are headed to Washington, D.C., for the eighth consecutive year, to entertain holiday visitors at the White House and perform for soldiers in the Wounded Warrior program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
Senior Vanessa Nowik made her first trip to perform at the White House last December – “a truly remarkable experience,” she said. “It also snowed, which made the whole event more magical than it already was.”
Sophomore Nikki Madle will make her first visit to the nation’s capital, and is especially excited “to give back to our country,” by brightening the holiday for the Wounded Warriors.
“Some of the treated veterans are my age,” said junior Nathaniel Odom. “It is a humbling feeling … I want to honor their incredible sacrifice for my continued education.”
The UNC Asheville Singers are directed by Melodie Galloway, chair and associate professor of music. Students performing will be: Kayla Blair, Ben Brown, Dillon Carter, Lindsay Ferkol, Lara Fetto, Austin Freer, William Isaacson, Austin Kellenberger, Jonathan Lavery, Kyra Lewis, Nikki Madle, Richard Miller, Weston Morris, Justin Morris, Vanessa Nowik, Nathaniel Odom, John O’Neil, Sarah Ristaino, Makeda Sandford, Colleen Scott, Talia Service, David Singleton, Jacob Stern and Kaitlyn Tarley.