CONCERT TO BENEFIT ILL STUDENT RUPTURED APPENDIX LANDS SINGER, 17, IN N.Y. HOSPITAL.Byline: ALEX DOBUZINSKIS Staff Writer BURBANK -- The kids in the Powerhouse show choir A show choir is a group of people who combine choral singing with dance movements, sometimes within the context of a specific idea or story. History Show choir began as an activity in the United States during the mid-1960s, though cultural historians have been unable to at John Burroughs High School John Burroughs High School is a public high school located in Burbank, California. Emilio Urioste, Jr. is the current principal. The school was built in the 1920's, but wasn't established as a high school until 1948. The school was named after naturalist John Burroughs. took second place this spring in a national competition in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . But that's not what they'll celebrate Sunday. Instead, they'll perform for one of their own who nearly didn't make it back from the Big Apple. Woody Somvichai, 17, was hospitalized with a ruptured rup·ture n. 1. a. The process or instance of breaking open or bursting. b. The state of being broken open. 2. A break in friendly relations. 3. Pathology a. appendix during his stay in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of -- and doctors said he could have died. He spent 26 days in the hospital and had to stay home when he returned to Burbank, going back to school only last week. Now there are bills to pay, including the amount Woody's mom spent going to New York to be with her son. So in the ``Let's Put on a Show'' spirit of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, parents and students organized a concert for Sunday to help defray de·fray tr.v. de·frayed, de·fray·ing, de·frays To undertake the payment of (costs or expenses); pay. [French défrayer, from Old French desfrayer : des-, those costs. Sunday's concert, called A Celebration of Friends, will involve students from John Burroughs, Burbank, Hart and Chula Vista high schools Chula Vista High School in Chula Vista, California, was founded in 1947. It is part of the Sweetwater Union High School District. The school colors are blue and white, and the mascot is Sammy Spartan. The school's main rival is the Sweetwater High School Red Devils. . Those schools are usually competitors, but Sunday it will be about celebrating the end of the year -- and Woody's recovery. ``I think why everybody's getting on this bandwagon band·wag·on n. 1. An elaborately decorated wagon used to transport musicians in a parade. 2. Informal A cause or party that attracts increasing numbers of adherents: and willing to do this show is because he's such a great person,'' said Mary Rago, the choir teacher at Burroughs High. Woody and the adults on the trip first thought he had the flu, since other kids on the trip had gotten the bug. It wasn't until bus-boarding time in New York on April 4 that a parent suggested Woody go to an emergency room instead of the airport. ``I just didn't know how serious it was, and I was kind of scared,'' Woody said Wednesday. ``I guess it's just fortunate that I made it because it was really bad.'' A doctor told Woody that a man in his 50s might not have survived what he suffered. He required two surgeries, and as he recovered, nurses told him to walk around the hospital's hallways to help his stomach get back to normal. ``It's a long recovery period because all of the bacteria messes up your inside a lot,'' he said. Fellow choir member Eddie Sotomayor, 16, said he was worried about his friend when he didn't get on the bus in New York. ``It worried me the whole way from New York to Burbank on the airplane, and I was just praying for him because they really didn't know what was wrong at that point,'' Eddie said. Woody himself thinks he'll be strong enough to perform Sunday. He doesn't plan a career in music, but wants to keep it part of his life. ``It's just so gratifying grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. after you finish the closer,'' he said, ``and the audience gets into the show and you hear the applause.'' alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com (818) 546-3304 IF YOU GO The Celebration of Friends concert to raise money for the family of Woody Somvichai is 2 p.m. Sunday at John Burroughs High School, 1920 W. Clark Ave., in Burbank. Tickets are $10. CAPTION(S): box Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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