Celebrate America Across Montana - 2009

School choirs from throughout Montana perform with Tim Janis and his ensemble. Celebrate America was created by Janis to spotlight our nation's youth and to pull communities together in a celebration of music that uplifts and inspires.

High school choirs from throughout Montana will perform with Tim Janis and his ensemble in this special, created by Janis to spotlight our nation's youth and to pull communities together in a celebration of music that uplifts and inspires. The program was taped in November, 2009, at the MontanaPBS studio in Bozeman. School buses rolled across the state from communities including Anaconda, Belgrade, Big Timber, Billings, Bozeman, Dillon, Great Falls, Hamilton, Helena, Laurel, Livingston, and Miles City, bringing together 500 students from Montana high school music programs. Arriving well-prepared and very professional, each choir came into the studio to record their performance for the broadcast. Tim Janis, familiar to public broadcasting audiences from programs such as An Enchanted Evening, Beautiful America, and Coastal America, is well known for his "Music with a Mission" philosophy and has worked on many other philanthropic projects. "I believe the fabric of our nation is the strength found in our local communities. We need to stay connected and committed with a spirit of serving one another to the best of our abilities," Janis said. "Not only does Celebrate America give our youth a life-changing opportunity, but it also helps teach children the importance of contributing to community through the arts."

Tim Janis, well known for his “Music with a Mission” has worked on many philanthropic projects with artists such as Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Ray Charles, Andre Previn, and The New York Philharmonic. He has also produced fund raising programs for PBS with George Clooney and James Earl Jones.

High school choirs from across Montana, will perform with Tim Janis and his ensemble in a new special called Celebrate America, created by Janis to spotlight our nation’s youth and pull communities together in a celebration of music that uplifts and inspires.

Celebrate America was taped at Montana Public Television in early October 2009. Buses rolled in from across the state, pulling together 500 students from Montana high school music programs. Arriving well prepared and very professional, each choir was brought into the station to record their performance for the broadcast.

Not only does Celebrate America give our youth a life-changing opportunity, but it also teaches children the importance of contributing to community through the arts, as Celebrate America is also a fund raising event during Public Television’s annual pledge drives.

The following schools participated in Celebrate America at the Montana Public Television station:

• Bozeman High School
• Belgrade High School
• Park High School
• Sweet Grass County High School
• Billings Central Catholic High School
• Laurel High School
• Billings Senior High School
• Charles M. Russell High School
• Hamilton High School
• Beaverhead County High School
• Anaconda High School
• Helena Capital High School
• Custer County High School
• Great Falls High School

Montana Public Television really put a lot of effort into creating this special. It takes a lot of ‘behind the scenes’ effort to bring this great opportunity for students together. I believe the fabric of our nation is the strength found in our local communities. We need to stay connected and committed with a spirit of serving one another to the best of our abilities.” Janis said.