SAN FERNANDO, CA. (Verizon Wireless) - San Fernando High School Placed First in a Verizon Wireless Competition in California to Have Grammy Winning Artists Play a
Private Concert at Their School
Verizon Wireless today unveiled that out of over 10 million votes from 120 participating high schools statewide, San Fernando High School is the California school receiving the highly coveted prize of having multi-platinum artists The Black Eyed Peas perform a private concert at their high school. The private performance will take place today at 2pm PST on the football field, with an expected audience of up to 4,600 students.
The competition kicked off on November 4, 2005 and closed on January 9, 2006. The high school that sent the highest amount of votes via phone text messages and online invitations had the opportunity to invite the band to perform at their school. The competition was promoted on the web at www.blackeyedpeasconcerts.com and by the students themselves via downloadable fliers from the website. Verizon Wireless posted real time tabulations of votes so that participants could see the high schools that were competing and view their status.
San Fernando High School was mobilized by its physical education department faculty members who instructed students in how to use their phones to text vote, as well as assisted them in using the school's computer lab to enter votes when they did not have classes. Several of the student and faculty leaders will get to meet the band at the performance. Large screens will be set up at the concert for the high school students to send pictures and text messages from their phones to interact with the band and fellow students prior to the concert. As an added bonus, Verizon Wireless will randomly select five students who enter a sweepstakes prior to the performance to meet the band.
"I am so proud of the San Fernando High School students. Thanks to Verizon Wireless and this tremendous event, they learned to believe in themselves. Our students each possessed the desire and belief that this could happen. They proved to everyone that if you put your heart into something, great things can happen," said San Fernando Valley High School physical education teacher Jodi Eyraud.
"Verizon Wireless applauds the tenacity and teamwork of San Fernando High School students," said Gregg Yacovone, Director of Marketing for Verizon Wireless. "Today's youth demonstrate how wireless technology and mobile phones enhance the way fans can connect directly with their favorite artists."
The Black Eyed Peas have transcended their vigilant hip-hop roots and have become a global phenomenon, featuring the quartet of award winning artists - William, Fergie, apl.de.ap and Taboo. The band's 2003's Elephunk was a breakthrough album for The Black Eyed Peas, vaulting them to a level of success unparalleled by any other hip-hop group - selling 7.5 million albums worldwide, receiving 4 Grammy nominations and winning two Grammy awards. With the band's fourth album in 2005, Monkey Business, the band has further intensified their passion for making music together, and connecting with their audience through the most fundamental ways: making fans have a good time.
Earlier this year, facilitated by Verizon Wireless' ad campaign featuring "My Humps" and with the support of VCAST customers, The Black Eyed Peas crossed a historic threshold as their hit single "My Humps" passed the 2 million Master Tones sales in the US according to Universal Music Mobile, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG) making it the top selling Master Tone of all time, and the first to reach the 2 million landmark.
To keep up to date with The Black Eyed Peas' latest music, fans can download the band's full-length songs, ring tones, ring back tones and music videos to their Verizon Wireless VCAST music phones through the company's V CAST service. $15 V CAST subscription required. For more information on V CAST Music from Verizon Wireless, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/music.
