Glee Club comes to East County

When the Fox television show "Glee" started this fall, Brentwood's Jacquelyn Klinger was delighted to see a show where kids came together to sing and dance in a club situation. After watching first few months she became inspired and wondered if she would be able to put together a program similar to what the group on the television show did.

"I've always loved to sing and thought the whole idea of Glee was a good one," Klinger said. "Singing is my passion and I know there are a lot of other kids who feel the same."

On the Fox series, a high school teachers decides to bring back the school's defunct Glee Club and help aspiring young underdogs realize their true star potential. Of course there is plenty of talent throughout the show as members of the club sing and dance their way into the hearts of the viewers. For Klinger that was part of the inspiration of building a similar club.

"Getting the chance to express what you are about is a good thing," she said.

With the help of her mother, Klinger approached her singing instructor, Heather Sandberg from Brentwood's Studio 26 and asked if Sandberg would be interested in helping the young girl set up the Glee Club. While Klinger is mostly just involved in singing she knew that the dancing aspect would be fun and interest other teens.

Liking the idea immediately Sandberg worked with Klinger to set the project in motion. Sandberg provided the location for the club to meet and the instruction for the Club. She even provided a venue where the participants in the club can test out their talents with an audience for the first time. Each year Studio 26 holds a recital where her students perform. She will be inviting the Glee Club students as well. She also hopes to find other venues throughout the summer for the Club participants to perform at.

"I really like the idea that the kids have been inspired by the TV show," Sandberg said. She even set up one of the songs from the show for the kids to practice as part of their presentation.

The Club started meeting for the first time in January. For the first meeting Klinger brought in nine of her friends to start the Glee Club. Since then, the group filled up at 23 students all between the ages of 11 and 18. Each offering their own set of unique talents according to Sandberg.

 "Some have been in school plays and taken singing and dance lessons for years," Sandberg said.
Klinger has participated in the Brentwood Teen Theater and performed in productions like The Wiz and Anne. She has also participated in singing competitions at the Alameda County Fair.

Right now the group meets once a week for less than an hour. They are working on learning three dance routines and three songs. The songs include "Fame" from the popular 1980 movie, "Don't Stop Believing" from Journey and "Walking on Sunshine" from the 1983 band Katrina and the Waves. Sandberg said all of the songs are popular and still heard today on a regular basis.

Right now, Sandberg said, that the Club is pretty full but she is considering of adding a second class in the fall. Klinger said that she encourages others to start their own Glee Clubs.

"The Glee Club is much better than I ever thought it would be," she said. "I think it is so important for people to express themselves through this type of stuff. It is so awesome."