CHS Senior Amber Rodriguez (center) and Boston Children’s
Chorus Executive Director David Howse (right) accept the
National Arts and Humanities Youth Program award from
First Lady Michelle Obama.
Last Friday brought Amber Rodriguez, a Chelsea High School senior, to the stage for an encounter with First Lady Michelle Obama. The occasion marked only the second time Rodriguez had come face-to-face with the First Lady, though both instances were connected through her involvement with the Boston Children’s Chorus (BCC), an organization that has occupied a central role in her life for ten years.
Throughout her decade with the BCC, Rodriguez has discovered the power of her own voice as a young person. A particularly defining moment came when she performed with the chorus at the Boston Marathon Bombing Interfaith Service held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End. “It might sound cliché, but BCC has given me a voice,” she explained. “I’m 17 and it’s easy to think you can’t make a difference in your community and don’t have a voice. After the Marathon Bombing, I felt so useless because I couldn’t do anything to help people feel better. However, we were asked to perform at the Interfaith Service and the president and his wife were there, several other familiar political faces and victims and family members of those who had been hurt. As we sang, just looking at their faces let me know I made them feel better. I felt like I played a role in the healing process for Boston. It’s something I never thought I’d be able to do and I couldn’t have done without my membership in BCC. That opportunity was very important to me.”
That same sense of meaning characterized last Friday’s ceremony. Rodriguez, daughter of School Committeeman Carlos Rodriguez and Ana Marie Rodriguez, took on the role of student ambassador for the BCC to receive a certificate and $10,000 award from Mrs. Obama.
“It was incredible and so overwhelming,” Rodriguez reflected this past Monday. “I was nervous and excited and had all types of emotions. She was so nice and had such nice words to say to all the winners. BCC chose me because I’ve been in the organization for such a long time and I showed what BCC stands for and was an example of someone who has showed a change over the years while in the organization.”
The recognition came as the BCC was honored for uniting children across racial and socioeconomic divides through innovative arts education. Out of more than 350 nominations and 50 finalists nationwide, the BCC was among just 12 programs in the United States to secure this distinction—the highest honor available to such organizations.
“Through these programs, young people are discovering their creative voices, developing a stronger sense of who they are as individuals, and gaining a deeper understanding of the world around them,” Obama noted in the award ceremony program. “And, as young people navigate today’s challenges, the programs we are honoring offer safe harbors that cultivate enthusiasm for learning, support academic achievement, and promote college readiness.”
Rodriguez’s musical journey began in childhood with a natural affinity for singing. Her path to the BCC came through encouragement from her third grade music teacher at the Kelley School.
“I remember singing ‘Row, row, row your boat’ several times at the audition and they accepted me,” she recalled. “The organization has been in existence for 11 years and I’ve been a part of it now for 10. I’ve been singing all my life and I love anything to do with music.”
Having progressed through the organization’s levels, Rodriguez now participates in one of two premiere choirs based in Boston’s South End, rehearsing twice weekly while mentoring younger members. Her musical pursuits extended to the Clark Avenue Middle School choir, and at CHS she has been active in Contare and theatrical productions including Hairspray, Ragtime, Rent, and the forthcoming Wizard of Oz.
In expressing her gratitude, Rodriguez acknowledged her parents and brother, Carlos X. Rodriguez. She also recognized BCC Director of Programs Ben Hires, Founder Hubie Jones, Artistic Director Anthony Trecek-King, and Executive Director David Howse.
Currently navigating college selection, Rodriguez remains uncertain whether music will be her academic focus. Music itself, however, will remain a permanent fixture in whatever path she chooses.
“I still don’t know if I’ll study music, but I think I’d be crazy not to do something with music because music has been a huge part of my life since I was young,” she stated. “If I don’t study music, I am definitely going to do something with music. No matter what, BCC has prepared me to do anything I want to do.”