Greenwich A Cappella celebrated its fifth anniversary season with a cinematic music video production at Reid Castle on the campus of Manhattanville University in Purchase, New York, on Sunday, April 19.
Lauren Regan, founder and artistic director of Greenwich A Cappella, has built and nurtured this remarkably vibrant and growing youth vocal community. Driven by a mission to build confidence in young singers Greenwich A Cappella sparks creativity, discipline and joy. The organization’s leadership also includes Anne Collin, group director, a Manhattanville alumna, creating a meaningful full-circle connection between the program and the university.
The production brought together approximately 60 student performers (grades K–12) from across Westchester County and Fairfield County, Connecticut, each stepping into a professional-scale experience shaped by months of vocal training, choreography and rehearsal. From the first note to the final frame, students were immersed in a process designed not just to teach performance, but to elevate it.
Set to a custom arrangement of “Rewrite the Stars” from The “Greatest Showman,” the production reflected a message of possibility and connection, mirroring the journey of the students as they stepped into a moment that felt both aspirational and real.
The setting was no coincidence.
After exploring more than 60 potential filming locations, the production team returned again and again to Reid Castle drawn to its timeless architecture, sweeping grounds and cinematic presence. The result was a backdrop that didn’t simply host the performance, it transformed it.
The collaboration itself was rooted in community. Kelly Beyrer, a parent of a performer and director of marketing and communications at Manhattanville University, helped connect Greenwich A Cappella with the campus, recognizing an opportunity to bring together a place and a program that share a deep commitment to creativity, expression and belonging.
“This is what community looks like, bringing people and places together to celebrate something bigger than all of us. It was incredibly meaningful to help connect Greenwich A Cappella with Manhattanville and showcase their extraordinary work in such a special setting,” said Beyrer.
For Regan, the experience reflected something even deeper.
“At Greenwich A Cappella, we believe young performers are capable of extraordinary things when you set the bar high and support them fully,” said Regan. “From the very beginning, our students are trained, prepared and treated as young professionals, gaining not only artistic skill but confidence in who they are. This music video was a celebration of that journey. Reid Castle provided such a beautiful, cinematic backdrop and it added a sense of scale and magic that made this experience incredibly special for our students.”
Supporting this vision was a professional creative team spanning music, choreography and film. Vocal producer Ben Bram, a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning arranger known for his work with Pentatonix and major film and television productions, led the musical direction. He was joined by Emmy Award-winning producer and creative director Shams Ahmed, music video director Nayip Ramos, and choreographer Ilia Jessica Castro, whose work includes collaborations with top recording artists and major film productions. Together, the team brought industry-level expertise to the project, ensuring students were guided through a process that reflected the standards of a true professional production.
As Greenwich A Cappella celebrates five years of inspiring young artists, this milestone production reflected the program’s ongoing commitment to excellence, opportunity, and community — brought to life at Manhattanville University as timeless castle moments that linger long after the final note.
Manhattanville University (formerly Manhattanville College) is a private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social responsibility. “U.S. News and World Report” ranks Manhattanville among the Top Performers of Social Mobility in Regional Universities North. The university has been recognized among the best colleges in The Princeton Review for close to 20 years.
Founded in 1841, the university offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from over 70 graduate and certificate programs.
Greenwich A Cappella is a Greenwich, Connecticut–based youth vocal program offering high-caliber a cappella training for students in grades K–12. Founded in 2020, the program provides a structured, progressive experience in which singers develop vocal technique, learn to perform in harmony and grow as confident performers. Students participate in showcases, community performances, studio recordings and professionally produced music videos, with advanced groups gaining opportunities to perform at high-profile venues and industry events.
In addition to its core programs, Greenwich A Cappella offers birthday parties, private vocal coaching and summer camps, creating engaging musical experiences for young performers year-round.
