Three Oklahoma high school choirs are locked in a friendly competition to join rock legends Foreigner for a live performance at Riverwind Casino’s Showplace Theater on Oct. 2. The contest, organized by local radio station 104.5 KRXO, will award the winning choir a spot on stage to sing the iconic chorus of “I Want to Know What Love Is,” a song whose original video famously featured a full choir.
How the contest works
KRXO’s program director Buddy Wiley explained that Foreigner’s representatives reached out to the station with the idea of recreating the memorable choir‑backed moment from the 1984 music video. “They asked if we wanted to do this contest for the ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ song, where the video is famous with the choir in the background, and they wanted to replicate that,” Wiley said.
Students from Piedmont High School, Putnam City High School and Carl Albert High School have submitted entries and are rallying their communities for votes. Voting is conducted online, and Wiley reported that more than 50,000 votes have already been cast within a few weeks of the contest’s launch.
Local impact and student excitement
For many participants, the contest represents their first exposure to Foreigner’s music. Piedmont choir director Linda Peters noted, “When I introduced that to them, they did not know who Foreigner was. Maybe a couple of them because of their parents would be ‘80s parents like me.’” The experience, however, goes beyond the music itself.
“If you look at this choir, there’s so many different people. There’s people in different sports and band, seniors, freshmen. It’s just so cool how it brings so many people together,” said Audrey Taber, a Piedmont choir member. Another student, Andy Lutz, described the opportunity as a dream come true, recalling his early love of performance and now hoping to share the stage with a band he calls “one of the greatest bands that I’ve heard, personally.”
Community involvement
The competition has galvanized parents, teachers and local fans, who are encouraged to vote for their favorite choir. The high level of participation underscores the community’s enthusiasm for supporting youth arts programs and providing memorable experiences for students.
Riverwind Casino, a prominent entertainment venue in Oklahoma, will host the concert, offering a professional setting for the winning choir to perform alongside Foreigner. The event promises to draw a sizable audience, further highlighting the role of local businesses in fostering cultural opportunities for young people.
What’s next?
The voting period remains open until the end of September, after which KRXO will announce the winning choir. Regardless of the outcome, all three schools will have benefited from heightened visibility and the chance to showcase their talent to a broader audience.
As the contest draws to a close, students, families and community members alike are reminded of the power of music to unite diverse groups and create lasting memories. Whether or not a choir earns the coveted spot on stage, the experience itself is already a testament to the vibrant arts culture thriving in Oklahoma’s schools.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
