OFA Senior, Corinne (Coco) Heitmann, poses in one of the music rooms at Owego Free Academy. Coco will be performing with the National Association for Music Education’s “All-National Honor Ensembles” mixed choir in Nashville, Tennessee Oct. 26-29. (Provided Photos)
OFA Senior, Corinne (Coco) Heitmann was crowned Homecoming Queen at the OFA homecoming game held Oct. 10. In addition, she was part of a doubles tennis championship that same day.
Owego Free Academy (OFA) Senior, Corinne (Coco) Heitmann, will be spending several days in the city most people recognize as the country music capital of the world. Often called “Music City,” Nashville, Tennessee is actually one of the most vibrant performing arts regions, which includes various styles and genres of music.
Heitmann was selected to perform with the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) “All-National Honor Ensembles” in Nashville, Tennessee on Oct. 26 through Oct. 29, with a final performance scheduled at the Grand Ole Opry on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Requirements to apply for NAfME include participation on the All-State level, be a member of his or her school’s choral ensemble and receive endorsement from an ensemble director. Meeting these and other requirements, Coco is now one of 300 students representing schools all across the United States, and also the only student attending from the immediate area (as far north as Cortland and as far west as Corning, N.Y.). Coco will perform in the mixed choir under the direction of some of the best music leaders in the field of music education.
Coco’s love for singing started at an early age, and in about fourth grade, she sang on a series of Matthews Chevrolet commercials. A regular student attending private voice lessons since about fourth grade, she has also participated in competitions as an individual vocalist. A member of the OFA chorus, Coco performs at various venues, including area restaurants, senior centers and special events such as the Strawberry Festival, and a more recent Domestic Violence Awareness function. She is also one of four vocalists in the twelve member school pop-rock band, “Making the Band.”
In addition to getting ready for her trip to Nashville, October has been a whirlwind month for Coco, which included participation in a doubles tennis championship and as a candidate for Homecoming Queen.
OFA Senior, Corinne (Coco) Heitmann, will be performing with students throughout the United States, in the “All-Star Honor Ensembles” mixed choir in Nashville, Tennessee Oct. 26-29, with an opportunity to sing at the Grand Ole Opry on Oct. 29.
Living in Germany for over seven years when her parents worked there, Coco started playing tennis when she was about seven years old. The enthusiasm for tennis continued when Coco’s family moved back to the States, and by seventh grade she was playing tennis for the school team. On Oct. 10, she was part of a doubles tennis championship, vying to defend a third consecutive title, however after three intense sets, the duo was defeated following more than two hours of a close match.
On the same day of the tennis championship, Coco quickly changed from athletic dress to homecoming dress, and made it back in time for OFA’s homecoming game, where she was crowned 2014 Homecoming Queen.
Following completion of high school, Coco’s goals include furthering her education, with potential majors in business marketing and sociology. She also hopes to find a university where she can play tennis, as well as continue her passion of performing music.
Coco is the daughter of Julie Nucci and Jim Overhiser of Owego, and Roland Heitmann and Jeanne-Marie Fleming of Vestal.
