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The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Shawndell Young can’t help but think about Cameron Sullenberger every day.<\/p>\n
Young’s office was once where Sullenberger held court in the same position at McKinley\u00a0STEAM Academy.\u00a0The late Sullenberger, who served as the cofounder and musical director of Revival Theatre Company and senior director of worship, music and creative arts at Noelridge Christian Church, was a beloved voice instructor who left an indelible mark on Young, who is McKinley’s director of choral activities.<\/p>\n
“Cameron and I go way back,” Young said. “When I was a sixth grader at McKinley STEAM Academy, which was then known as McKinley Middle School, I met him at a summer camp. He was such an excitable and joyful man. He came up to me and said, ‘You’re going to be a star. I can’t wait to have you at McKinley.’ He was the middle school choir director, same job, same school as me. He\u00a0was amazing. He was not just a mentor. He was family.”<\/p>\n
Sullenberger died in February 2023. Young and Alicia Mon\u00e8e will perform in his honor Friday, Nov. 21, at CSPS Hall for the third annual Cameron Sullenberger Overture Series.<\/p>\n
Young, 28, and Mon\u00e8e, 36, will sing songs from a mix of genres.<\/p>\n
“There will be some funk, some Broadway and songs from the Great American Songbook,” Young said. “You’ll experience theater favorites. Alicia and I will be performing together and separately.”<\/p>\n
Young didn’t think twice when he was asked to perform at this year’s benefit concert.<\/p>\n