PS22 Chorus facts for kids

The PS22 Chorus, led by their director Gregg Breinberg (also known as "Mr. B"), is a super talented group of elementary school students from PS 22 in Graniteville, Staten Island, New York City. This chorus is made up of about 60 to 70 fifth-graders each year. PS 22 is actually the biggest elementary school on Staten Island!

The PS22 Chorus has become famous worldwide thanks to their amazing videos on YouTube, which have been watched over 100 million times! They've performed with many famous musicians like Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood, and Fifth Harmony. They even had a super special performance of "Over the Rainbow" that closed the 83rd Academy Awards! The chorus has also appeared on many national and international TV shows. They even won a Webby Award for their online presence!

Amazing Performances and Special Guests

The PS22 Chorus has had many incredible experiences over the years, performing with famous artists and appearing on big shows. Here are some of their highlights:

Chorus of 2006/2007

• The chorus performed for singer-songwriter Tori Amos in New York City.
• Famous blogger Perez Hilton started writing about the PS22 Chorus, helping them gain more fans.

Chorus of 2007/2008

• Neil Finn, the lead singer of the band Crowded House, invited the chorus to sing at their sold-out concert in New York.
• Members of the chorus appeared in several videos for the TV show The Electric Company.

Chorus of 2008/2009

• The electronic band Passion Pit asked the PS22 Chorus to sing background vocals on three songs for their album Manners. One of these songs, "The Reeling," was even nominated for an MTV Video Music Award!
• The chorus performed with country singer Cooper Boone at a charity event and met Chelsea Clinton and R&B singer Rihanna.
• Nightline did a special report about the PS22 Chorus.
• Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac invited the chorus to sing for her at Madison Square Garden.
• The chorus performed on Good Morning America and It's On with Alexa Chung (on MTV).
• They were also featured on the nationally televised VH1 Divas Special 2009.

Chorus of 2009/2010

• The cast and director of the movie Fame visited the school. The VH1 Save The Music Foundation also gave the school a $30,000 check for a new keyboard lab!
• Billboard magazine invited the chorus to perform at an award ceremony for Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
• The chorus performed with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland for 2500 children in New York.
• They sang at the Third Annual Heroes Gala, hosted by NBC's Brian Williams.
• The chorus performed with rapper Common at the National Tree Lighting ceremony at the White House, with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden attending!
• Celtic Woman visited PS22 and invited the chorus to join them for two songs at their Radio City Music Hall concert.
• After hearing their version of his song "One Day," reggae artist Matisyahu visited PS22 and invited the chorus to perform with him.

Chorus of 2010/2011

• The students performed at a charity event for "New Yorkers for Children."
• They sang with Matisyahu again at the ONEXONE Gala, supported by actor Matt Damon.
• The chorus performed at the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America event in Manhattan.
• Kylie Minogue visited the children and performed with them, including the first-ever live performance of her song "Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)."
• Producer Bruce Cohen and actress Anne Hathaway visited the chorus's Winter Concert and invited them to perform at the 83rd Academy Awards.
• The students performed an amazing closing number of "Over the Rainbow" at the 83rd Academy Awards on February 27, 2011.
• The children performed with Katy Perry on The Oprah Winfrey Show after the Oscars.
• The chorus performed with The Bangles at the Tribeca Film Festival.
• Freelance Whales visited the school and performed with the chorus.
• David Cook visited PS22 and performed several songs with the chorus.
• The group reunited to perform a 40-minute show at the Newport Folk Festival.
• PS22 Chorus appeared on Sesame Street in a video singing "Somebody Come and Play."
• A documentary about this chorus, "Once In A Lullaby: The PS22 Chorus Story," premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
• The PS22 Chorus "Firework" video appeared in Katy Perry's 3-D movie, Part of Me.

Chorus of 2011/2012

• Artist V V Brown visited and performed several songs with the chorus.
• The chorus performed with Thirty Seconds to Mars for their songs "Closer to the Edge" and "Kings and Queens."
• Artist Susan Justice visited and filmed several songs with the children.
• A PS22 Chorus alumnus, Denise Bestman, appeared in a Target commercial singing "Rolling In The Deep" by Adele, which aired during the 2012 Grammys.
• The students performed a tribute to Whitney Houston, singing "The Greatest Love of All" on the Piers Morgan Tonight show on CNN.
• Sinéad O'Connor invited PS22 to open her show and joined them onstage to perform her song "Jackie."
• The kids sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" to legendary singer-songwriter, Paul Simon.
• PS22 Chorus performed at the NEA's Read Across America Event, featuring Zac Efron and Danny DeVito, in honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday.
• Celtic Woman returned to PS22 and recorded several songs with the chorus.
• PS22 Chorus recorded a video to help save music education with Ingrid Michaelson for DoSomething.org.
• Gym Class Heroes invited PS22 Chorus to perform "The Fighter" with them at their concert.
• The chorus performed "Good Girl" and "So Small" with Grammy Award-winning artist, Carrie Underwood, when she visited the kids at their school.
• PS22 Chorus sang several songs with Walk the Moon.
• Hip hop duo Chiddy Bang visited PS22 and performed with the children.
• The chorus sang for Jennifer Hudson at Samsung's Hope For Children Gala.
• Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna visited PS22 Chorus and performed four of her original songs.
• ABC World News did a follow-up story on the PS22 Chorus.
• Discovery Channel began airing a public service announcement featuring PS22 Chorus singing "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane.
• A group of PS22 Chorus members appeared on the season finale of America's Got Talent to sing "Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga.
• VH1's Carrie Underwood: Behind The Music concluded with footage of Carrie singing with the 2011/12 PS22 Chorus.

Chorus of 2012/2013

• The new group of fifth graders recorded two videos with Creed frontman Scott Stapp.
• PS22 Chorus sang at the opening of Four Freedoms Park for former President Bill Clinton, Governor Andrew Cuomo, and others.
• American Idol winner Phillip Phillips joined the PS22 Chorus for an online concert to raise money for victims of Hurricane Sandy.
• Members of the chorus rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange.
• The PS22 Chorus performed at the 86th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
• The chorus joined Carrie Underwood to sing her song "So Small" in Newark.
• The PS22 Chorus joined President Barack Obama in celebrating the 57th Presidential Inauguration and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
• PS22 Chorus performed their popular cover of "Don't You Worry Child" by Swedish House Mafia on ABC's Katie.
• Teen Vogue magazine featured the PS22 Chorus with Elle King.
• Delta Rae visited PS22 to perform several songs with the chorus.
• The kids performed their version of "Disparate Youth" with Santigold.
• PS22 Chorus performed two songs with country group The Henningsens.
• The chorus attended the Sesame Gala and performed two songs with The Sesame Muppets.
• Do Something invited the PS22 Chorus to open their 20th birthday celebration and record an acoustic version of "MMMBop" with Hanson.
• Michael Franti visited PS22 Chorus and performed three of his songs with the group.
• PS22 Chorus performed with Jessica Sanchez at The Trevor LIVE Gala.

Chorus of 2013/2014

• The group was a featured act at the Global Citizen Festival, singing to 60,000 people in Central Park.
• PS22 Chorus performed with Chris Daughtry in a version of the band Daughtry's song, "Waiting for Superman."
• The kids performed the national anthem at the start of the New York Marathon.
• PS22 Chorus honored Lady Gaga with a medley of her songs at Carnegie Hall.
• Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw visited the chorus and sang two of his songs with the kids.
• Indie band The Mowgli's performed two songs with the PS22 Chorus.
• PS22 Chorus sang with Emily Kinney from The Walking Dead.
• The chorus appeared on NBC's Today Show and opened the show with Christmas songs.
• Chorus joined Teddy Geiger in "Walking in the Sun."
• Girl Group Fifth Harmony performed two of their songs and a short version of "Jar of Hearts" by Christina Perri with the PS22 Chorus.
• The chorus joined the band Bleachers in singing "I Wanna Get Better."
• Chorus took part in Apollo Jam performing "Oh Happy Day" with Gladys Knight, Edwin Hawkins and Matthew Whitaker.

Chorus of 2014/2015

• The chorus joined The Swon Brothers in "Pretty Beautiful."
• The chorus performed "Picture Me Gone" with Ariel Pink.
• Sara Bareilles visited the chorus where they performed "Brave" for her.

Chorus of 2015/2016

• The chorus's version of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen became a huge hit, getting over 2 million views!

Chorus of 2016/2017

• American rock band Portugal. The Man visited the chorus and performed "Feel It Still" with them.

Chorus of 2017/2018

• The chorus joined Albin Lee Meldau singing "Same Boat" and "Blue Christmas."
• The chorus performed "The First Noel" with Leslie Odom Jr. for the Christmas season.
• The chorus performed "Dreams" in memory of Dolores O'Riordan from The Cranberries.
• They made a special theme song for the live trivia game app HQ.
• The chorus performed "Younger" with A Great Big World.
• The chorus performed "Paradise is Waiting" with the musical project St. Lucia.

Chorus of 2019

• The chorus joined AJR in singing "100 Bad Days."

Media Spotlight: Where They've Been Seen and Heard

The PS22 Chorus has been featured in many different types of media, from TV shows to newspapers, bringing their music to even more people!

TV Appearances

• ABC News Nightline (ABC)
• Good Day New York (Fox 5)
• MTV News with Sway Calloway (MTV)
• NBC Nightly News (MSNBC)
• The Bonnie Hunt Show
• Anderson Cooper 360° (CNN)
• RTL Television (a German TV station)
• 83rd Academy Awards
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (CBS)
• Katy Perry: Part of Me Movie

Radio Appearances

• All Things Considered (NPR)
• Chris Evans (BBC)
• Q (CBC)
• The Howard Stern Show
• Joan Hamburg (WOR-2)

Newspaper and Online Articles

• The New York Times
• New York Magazine
• In June 2009, an Associated Press article by Verena Dobnik helped the chorus gain worldwide attention. This article appeared in major newspapers and websites like The Guardian, The Boston Globe, The Seattle Times, and The Huffington Post.
• Dein Spiegel (a German magazine for children)
• Time
• Daily News (New York)
• Los Angeles Times

Awards and Recognitions

The PS22 Chorus has been honored with several awards for their talent and impact:

• COAHSi (Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island) Award in 2003 and 2009
• Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award in 2010
• Webby Artist of the Year Award in 2010
• Common Sense Media Award in 2011