Choir has always been my favorite class. I’ve always loved the sense of community and belonging that I feel when singing alongside everyone else. With this being my final year in choir, a class I’ve been in since middle school, I wanted to honor the class with a retrospective, but I don’t think that I could put it into words, so instead I interviewed five seniors (and the teacher) in the class to hear their thoughts and opinions. And so, without further ado, let’s hear what they have to say about choir–
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Daxton Robertson
He/Him, Alto
Been in choir 6 years
What’s your experience been with this choir?
“It has been a wonderful experience, I have made, so many friends, and some of the closest people I have in my life are in that class. There have been a few unpleasant experiences, but the good outweighs the bad, so much. And I’m so close with everyone there, I feel like no matter how bad of a mood I’m in I can go in there and I feel better, cause everyone in there is, soo, just uplifting.”
What’s your favorite part of this choir?
“My favorite part of choir is the connections we have with each other, especially the seniors, who have been around since Ms. C’Stranne’s start of teaching, cause that was our first year of middle school and that was also her very first year of teaching, so the connection that we have is, really deep, and we have known each other for so long that it’s just this big group of people that, no matter, like, what we do we’re able to talk about a bunch of stuff.”
What’s your least favorite part of this choir?
“My least favorite part of choir, I don’t really know, I guess like, some of the songs that we do, especially this year. Personally I haven’t been a big fan of most of our sets cause I don’t really like, the songs weren’t the greatest in my opinion, they were, some of them were fun, but a lot of them I did not really enjoy”
How has choir changed since you’ve joined?
“We have definitely gotten a lot more experienced and being able to like, do more festivals and participate more in stuff that isn’t just our concerts that we do every year, so being able to go to like UW and Meadowdale and going on choir retreats, has been a wonderful experience because we’re able to have a much better connection overall and we’re able to perform the sets that we have more than just one time.”
How has choir stayed the same since you’ve joined?
“How has choir stayed the same? It has changed a lot because we’re getting older and like the people that were around previous years are no longer around, but the one thing that has stayed the same is like connections, like some of our choir alums come and watch our concerts and the connections that like stay so strong within choir through the upperclassmen, especially the seniors and juniors, it’s really special and it’s something that I think is incredibly strong.”
You’ve been in choir since middle school, what’s that been like?
“My middle school experience was kind of cut short and was weirder because seventh grade was my covid year, so that was when lockdown happened and we all had to go to online, but even then like doing choir over zoom, it was weird, and we had to send in part tracks through canvas, but I still enjoyed it because we were still able to have a connection even though we were behind computer screens and once hybrid learning started, majority of us went back and there were probably only three people who stuck to staying online, so once we were back in person, we still had… a really good connection and were able to you know hang out, and enjoy choir to the fullest that we could.”
What’s you’re opinion of or favorite part of retreats?
“My favorite part of the retreats is definitely like when we have free time back in the cabins before bed, I was always in quote unquote guy’s cabin, so we were always like, having talks and just talking about a bunch of random stuff before we would end up going to sleep like around eleven, but we would always stay up, we would be in the main area and we would just hang out and I just enjoyed that because it was a way to get to know each other more, especially the sophomores and freshman, that you know, didn’t really have much of a connection to the upperclassmen”
How do you feel about the final concert?
“How do I feel about the final concert? I have a lot of mixed feelings, I’m excited because most of the songs I enjoy, it’s just better when I’m dancing that I’m not a fan of, but I’m a fan of all the other songs. I’m gonna be going for one of the solos for somebody to love cause it’s one of my favorite songs and I feel like a senior solo would be great because, it’s our closer song and having that one final time with each other is something that I really want. It’s gonna be very bittersweet because a lot of us have been with each other for so long but I’m really hoping to keep those connections and hopefully have meet ups with the seniors after we graduate and you know, maybe go on a trip or two so we can still have those connections”
Whats your favorite part of having the community in choir?
“Favorite? Let’s see, It’s so freeing cause a lot of classes, or just like activities, they feel kind of suffocating and like there’s people that don’t feel like they belong at all, so it makes it hard to get those connections and to really enjoy it to it’s fullest. But choir is like such a welcoming community, it is such a freeing community, it feels kind of like a second family to me and even if it’s not the same as it used to be, it’s still such a special part of my life that I don’t think that I would ever change because of how welcoming and how freeing and how welcoming it is.”
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Rheyene Verduzco
They/Them, Mezzo
Been in choir 1 year
What’s your experience been with this choir?
“It has been really fun, everyone there has been so supportive and so nice, and I’ve learned a lot taking this class. I got, it was very fun to go on field trips and just connecting with everyone and learning techniques with like singing, and actually learning how to read like music”
What’s your favorite part of this choir?
“Ok, my favorite part of choir is, being able to sing with everyone, and being able to, I guess- I don’t really sing out loud at home, so it’s really nice to be able to let it all out, and stuff, and practice that, you know, it’s very fun!”
What’s your least favorite part of this choir?
“My least favorite part?….. That’s a tough one, I like a lot of the stuff… My least favorite, I guess, I don’t know… having to put our phones away, cause otherwise I really like the class”
How has choir changed since you’ve joined?
“I’m not sure, I don’t really have an answer to that… I guess… I know more people now, and… yeah that’s just how much has changed for me. Actually! From fifth grade, so I was only there for like my sister and stuff, but, because I used to, I used to be in choir, for like, when I was in elementary, and like, I only joined because, for my last year I wanted to do something with my sister that we used to do back then together, so choir was one of them,, yea”
How has choir stayed the same since you’ve joined?
“I, I guess…. I’m not sure, I guess just, with all the, with the arrangements, I guess just, where we stand when we perform and who I’m singing with”
So, you just joined choir this year, what’s that been like?
“It has been, I was very nervous at the beginning, because there was like so many people, and, I didn’t know how I’d sound, or if I was doing well, but you get used to it pretty quick, and it’s very nice, it’s just a nice class to settle into”
What’s you’re opinion of or favorite part of retreats?
“It was a crazy experience, it was nice to, to, to be out there and, actually like making connections with the people than being inside the classroom, cause we’d have to like stay like, how long were we there? A whole week? two days! Saturday to Monday, the, the food there was so good, I really loved the food, I really like the mac n’ cheese there, that was fun”
How do you feel about the final concert?
“Saad. I don’t wanna go. I’m gonna miss a lot of people there, especially Ms. C’Stranne, she’s so nice! It’s my first and last year with her”
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Adeline Chapple
She/Her, Alto
Been in choir 6 years
What’s your experience been with this choir?
“My experience… I really like choir, I’ve made like half my friends in choir. Everyone’s really nice, supportive, I really like the choir retreats. I just feel like everyone’s really nice to each other, everyone’s really close to each other and it’s just a really nice environment… Well I rarely come, but it’s still fun”
What’s your favorite part of this choir?
“Probably the choir retreat, and the outside of school activities, like festivals and stuff like that”
What’s your least favorite part of this choir?
“I honestly don’t have a least favorite, I just don’t like waking up early for school so,”
How has choir changed since you’ve joined?
“I, I don’t think it’s changed, I think it just upsets a lot of people that every year all the seniors leave and everything, but, I don’t know nothings really changed, I think everything’s been the same, you just get new people, but we all become friends with each other so, it doesn’t really matter”
How has choir stayed the same since you’ve joined?
“The teacher’s stayed the same, she seems, I feel like it just really depends on the environment, like everyone just seems a lot more happier, and like, I don’t know, everyone’s just been like very energetic, very nice. So the vibe stays the same”
You’ve been in choir since middle school, what’s that been like?
“It was really fun, again I made a lot of friends, a lot of people, who were in middle school some of didn’t go to Shorewood, so I did lose some people, but I’m still in contact with them, which is good, cause I met them in choir and they’re like my best friends. Yeah! I did miss like half of choir because we did online and online was a little bit interesting, but it was still fun”
What’s you’re opinion of or favorite part of retreats?
“Oh, man, probably late night talks in the cabin because whatever’s said in the circle stays in the circle and we always have great conversations, Or the fire, we get to sing songs together”
How do you feel about the final concert?
“That’s gonna be upsetting, like I’m gonna be sad obviously, and, I’ll miss everyone in choir, but I think we’re gonna do really good honestly, we’ve been practicing for a while, it’s gonna be a really fun concert, with all of the songs that we have, the moods definitely gonna change but, I think it’s gonna do good. There’s like three different moods, not gonna lie,”
Do you plan on still doing anything choir related, beyond graduation?
“I do, I plan on joining a choir, all four years if I can, I don’t know, Yeah, I plan on still singing after school. I feel like, I don’t know, it really depends, like I like singing enough to the point where I’d stay in the choir like if I can at least make one friend in the choir there, then that would be great, and I know I will cause I’m kind of talkative sometimes, but like either way I feel like I’d still stay just cause so I can sing”
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Nathan Walsh
Any/All, Bass/Ottava Alto
Class Secretary
Been in choir 6 years
What’s your experience been with this choir?
“Oh it’s been definitely overall super positive, it’s, especially up until this year it’s been one of the closest knit communities that I’ve been in, I joined auto tech this year so now I have kind of another one, But it’s just a really good vibe and everyone gets along really well and I’ve met a lot of really good, really good and cool people through it.”
What’s your favorite part of this choir?
“My favorite part of choir is definitely the community, like, you know the songs are fun and all that, But it’s all about the people really, it’s just like super fun to know people like that and you all have something that ties you together, especially during retreats, you each get to spend so much time together and you’re all Weird, you know.”
What’s your least favorite part of this choir?
“My least favorite part of choir is when she doesn’t listen to us. Like sometimes we’ll have small issues in the music, or like we’ll have small suggestions for stuff and, usually she’s pretty good about it, but sometimes it’s like, kind of difficult to get through to her”
How has choir changed since you’ve joined?
“I mean of course a lot of it is like with the people, like every year a different class graduates and we change our sound because of it. I think definitely the biggest shift was after our sophomore year when we lost Ellen and Abraham and Dahyun, and you know, all of those seniors that were kind of, not like carrying the choir, but like they were definitely like some of our stronger voices, and then our junior year we came back and it was just like, we Sounded different, and it was, it was a difficult adjustment.”
How has choir stayed the same since you’ve joined?
“It’s still, we still have a lot of like, running jokes and stuff, some of them have been there since middle school, I remember like we used to do Everyone would where pink on Wednesdays, there’s still like all the jokes about like, the catchphrase game, stuff like that, and like and you know it’s still, like especially for each class, it’s like a lot of the same people you know, and like graduating with the sophomores, or sorry not sophomores, the juniors and seniors that I’ve known since middle school”
You’ve been in choir since middle school, what’s that been like?
“In middle school it was super weird because we had covid right in the middle of it. So, trying to do choir, during an online school was… very weird, it’s like weird being, like recording my voice and then sending it in and then her like cutting all of our voices together, it was like super awkward. And then freshman year was crazy ‘cause it was our first year back and like, and it’s just been, it’s overall been wonderful, but like it was super awkward, cause it was like ‘I know all these people’, but only kind of, Cause I know like a black square with their name from zoom, you know.”
What’s you’re opinion of or favorite part of retreats?
“My favorite part of retreats? … The lip sync battles are super fun, either that or like Senior circles, those are… like devastating, but they’re like, you know it’s really nice cause it plays into that whole sense of community thing”
How do you feel about the final concert?
“Honestly, I’m a little disappointed with it this year, it’s not the set that I wanted, and I think that having a Meghan Trainer song, and then like a Les Mis song, and then also the new like theme song thing that we’re doing, I think that would enjoy all of them independently or across different concerts, But I don’t think they go together very well for like this concert, especially Les Mis, I don’t know why we’re doing a Les Mis song. I liked the play, but like come on.”
What’s being secretary like?
“It’s… really not that difficult honestly, I’m glad, it’s my second year doing it, and I’m glad that I didn’t go for anything bigger. Just cause like, I’m not one of the most consistently there person, like people, you know. I show up and my jobs easy enough, that if I’m not there, someone else can take it over. I pretty much just do the attendance and like whatever else the other officers ask of me.”
Do you have anything else to add?
“Just that like choir has been one of the… best choices that I’ve made throughout, middle and highschool. Having a group that I know, and I know that all of us care for each other, it’s like, I think it’s really helped me get through high school, you know.”
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Saphia Kiogima
She/Her, Mezzo
Class President
Been in choir 5 years
What’s your experience been with this choir?
“Honestly it’s been pretty good. I feel like… Since I, from since I joined, I’ve been in, in it since seventh grade, but since I joined I feel like I’ve really grown as a person, and I think it’s kind of like as a result of choir, for a, for like, a couple of years there were times where I was like ‘I need to quit Shorewood Highschool, I don’t like Shorewood Highschool, I hate it here’, and then it was like if I quit I don’t get to be in the choir anymore and then I have to go to like a different school and start over in a different choir, and I don’t want to do that, I like these people. So I think it really was, it helped me grow, a lot, and it helped me like grow into myself a bit. Also I like everyone in there, which is nice. It’s had, I’ve had my moments where I’ve kind of been like ‘I can’t do this anymore’, but then it’s like, ‘oh, wait actually, no I actually really like this, I’m just being dramatic’. So, there’s like highs and lows, but usually, I think I’m gonna like remember really nice things from it, like more than the bad things I remember.”
What’s your favorite part of this choir?
“I kind of just like the things that we do together, like the community, obviously, but I think the things that we do as a community, and also just like watching people grow, like over time, like I’ve seen, like there’s a lot of people I’ve known since you know freshman year, who I look at now and I’m like ‘wow’, like you really grew into yourself, like in a really nice way.”
What’s your least favorite part of this choir?
“…I can’t be honest about this one, If I’m honest about, if I’m like way too honest, it’ll seem like a personal attack. I think, I think like one of my least favorite parts about it, it might just be the inbetweens, like the inbetween concerts, like the grinding, and like, like… Cause there’s like that period in between the end of the concert, we get new music and then we start grinding for the next one where we slow down, and then it kind of turns out that we’re going to slow, so then for like a month we have to be like ‘ok we have to Lock In’, and it’s like, that’s like I think one of the, one of my least favorite parts about it, like it just… like the locking in part, cause, learning music, learning a lot of music in a lot of time, like a very small time is really hard, but it’s also like really worth it at the end, it’s just really frustrating in the moment. I think the other thing that is kind of my least favorite part is that, I’m always in the back. So I can’t hear anything, but I’m also really loud, so, that’s why she puts me in the back? I like, it’s like, it’s like I got like nothing over here, and then like the whole soprano section, it’s like kind of crazy it’s like, it’s just, I think, I think like aside from the like kind of stressful moments of like ‘we gotta get this done right now’ it’s just that, sometimes wherever I’m standing I can’t hear anything, in concerts, which is just like a really small dislike, but, I honestly don’t really like anything-like I don’t really dislike anything about it that’s so extreme that comes to mind, you know?
How has choir changed since you’ve joined?
“I feel like, this isn’t like, this isn’t meant to be mean, I feel like it’s gotten a lot less, competitive, like… back when I first started out, like in freshman year, there was like a lot of really talented, like juniors and seniors, but when those people graduated, it like, kind of opened up the playing field a little bit more? I think it’s also like, I think… It’s like weird now that I’m a senior, cause now I’m getting to see all the stuff that all the senior had to put up with, like being like, like having like everyone be like ‘no you should just fail you classes, and have to become a super senior so you can stay here’, like hell no! I’m not, I’m not staying, I’m not staying here, I’m graduating! I’m gonna go to college and get my degree! Like I’m not, I’m not gonna get my like secondary highschool diploma, or my G.E.D, are you kidding? But like, it’s, it’s like a weird cycle, because I can, I can see it kind of becoming, like I can see like all the freshman that I like know now, kind of like becoming like, what it was like my freshman year, like, it’s like, it’s almost like a cycle, you know, you kind of just become like a little disconnected from like the cycle of like, ‘this is weird! This is, this feels like very competition-y’ to like ‘oh! Like this is a community!’, but then the new batch of freshman come in and then the freshman are like ‘oh this is competition-y!’ then ‘oh wait no! This is a community!’, and then like you become a senior, and your suddenly like, ‘wow. This is like, like my formative highschool years, like I’m gonna remember these people for like, the next like ten years, like these people have like taught me things and stuff’, and then you graduate and everyone’s upset about it”
How has choir stayed the same since you’ve joined?
“I think, I don’t know if you should put this down, because it sounds really mean, but if you can make it sound less mean, then go for it. I feel like there is just like always going to be someone that you don’t like. In any situation, and there’s always going to be someone that doesn’t like you, and I, I think that hasn’t really changed as much, like we’re all welcoming and tolerant, but, like… I feel like, there’s just like some people who like just don’t like each other and I think, it’s not as much of the end of the world as some people think it is, like you’re gonna enter the like adult world and there’s always going to be people who, people you don’t like but I think like learning that in like a space like choir, which is a pretty safe space is like a good place to learn it, and then you also like, you know- One thing that also hasn’t changed is that like people, especially the freshmen, start out like a little more confused, but I think being in choir, for me at least, was like very… key to the development of my personality, and I think I can like see that for the freshmen too, and that’s like why I think it was so important for me in like my freshmen and like sophomore year to have like strong leading seniors, because a lot of them, were like- It was like ‘Oh! These are like really good people! I like this thing that they do, I’m gonna try doing that, or I’m gonna try thinking this way or I’m gonna ask this person for advice, like if this person were here I would know what to do, like they would know what to do’, and I think that was again, very key for my development, especially like having to become that senior, of like, like I’m the president now! I have to like, you know I have to be like an example, and I don’t know if I was a very good example? Personally I don’t really think so, but it’s like not really up to me. But I think something that hasn’t really changed is just having people who can like, lead the flock, I guess”
You’ve been in choir since middle school, what’s that been like?
It’s like kind of weird, cause I’m like, I’ve like been with C’Stranne since she started teaching like that, like our seventh grade class was like her first batch of seventh graders, like we were some of her first students that she ever started teaching, like I was, I’m like one of the last people that is going to remember like there, like there being Hendrix instead of C’Stranne, I had Hendrix in honor choir. They would like teach us in the, they would ‘teach us’ at our schools at first, but then, they would like have the bigger practices, like here so, I didn’t learn anything during the small practices in the elementary school, because Ms. Santopiatro was not a choir teacher, but… It’s like, Weird, cause I’ve like watched C’Stranne grow, I guess that’s also like it, it’s like, when I first met her she was like, you know she wasn’t like just a kid, but she was like just starting out teaching so, like that gap from like seventh grade, then I didn’t do choir like eighth grade, and then like ninth grade it was like so, different, but even in ninth grade it was like, she was still growing, like she was still getting her masters degree, but like she got her masters degree and now she’s, and now she’s married, and she’s like, like she has a baby! It’s like, I kind of like watched her become, like become a real adult I guess, which is like strange cause she also watched, is watching me become an adult..? Yea, it’s weird,”
What’s it like being the choir president?
“Oh god… I think, it’s definitely, part of it’s that hard is having to be the like, responsible person, because, as it turns out, people don’t normally like the responsible person that’s like, ‘Hey guys, I don’t think you should be doing that’, like I don’t like raining on people’s parade, you know. But at the same time it’s like, I feel, like, My role as the president is like, get it, get everyone together, like do all this stuff behind the scenes, like you have to do, this this and this, but then the role of the vice president is more like, you know, to be like, the personality, to the, actions, I think Saige was definitely a really good choice for vice president, like she’s very, welcoming and influential, and, like… to have that influence, especially, like- I’m very conflict avoidant, and like so is Saige, but to have someone who has like, a more influential personality there to help you out, is like really key. I think the other part of being the president is that there’s just this, constant crushing sense of responsibility, which isn’t a bad thing, like I knew what I was signing up for when I signed up for it, but it’s definitely… it’s a commitment, it’s like a, it’s a labor of love, you could say”
How do you feel about the final concert?
“It’s gonna, it’s gonna be great. I think it’s gonna be one of our most interesting concerts yet. I don’t really know if I’m like ready to let go, and graduate, but, I feel like, it’s like now or never, I guess, It’s definitely gonna be interesting, I think this is like, just from my descriptions and, like my, telling people what the songs are about, more of my friends are interested in going to this concert that they’ve ever been. So, gonna go out with a bang, to the Bluey theme.”
Do you plan on still doing anything choir related, beyond graduation?
“Maybe, I think, I think if I do do anything choir related, it’s either going to be another jazz choir in college, or it’s gonna be like, you know a local small group, like, like, I don’t know, I like enjoy, I mean I might not join a choir, but I do enjoy like, I’ve been to like church choir, I’ve listened church choirs before, I’ve like enjoyed that type of thing… I just like music, and, like even if I’m not performing it, I’m probably not gonna stop singing, like on my own, so,“
Do you have anything else to add?
“Maybe like… I think, I think if people are thinking about joining choir, it’s worth it, even if you just join for like a semester, I think it’s worth it just to sign up for it, if you’re not sure you’ll like it or if you just wanna try it out like- It’s definitely a commitment to time, and I think a lot of people, like, I think a lot of, some people are a bit more committed to it than others, but I think like if you’re thinking about it it’s totally worth it, it’s very welcoming, we’re very fun, I think next year is going to be great, I think whoever, like all the officers next year are gonna do a great job, like whoever they are, I think, like, I don’t feel like I have unfinished business, you know, I don’t feel like I’m like leaving it in like shambles, I feel like, what I’m graduating and leaving behind is like, a good foundation for the next batch of seniors.”
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Marilee C’Strannè
She/Her
“I, do not confine myself to the boxes of soprano, alto, tenor, whatever”
Been teaching this choir for 6 years
What’s your experience been with this choir?
“This choir is definitely one of the more… How do I word it, They definitely go home and practice, this choir is definitely really good at making sure they know they’re stuff, and get it done in time for concerts. There’s been two separate times where I have thought that the ensemble was going to need to have music on stage, and I said ‘have it memorized by this time’, hoping that they would, thinking that they probably wouldn’t, and they did! So we didn’t have to have music on stage, and I was just so impressed and so happy, yea it’s just been really fun. This group is also very, very caring, everybody’s very caring and they really love and like support one another which is just so wonderful to see, that’s been my experience so far with this group”
What’s your favorite part of this choir?
“I really love getting to teach different music to students that they wouldn’t normally have an opportunity to listen to or learn, otherwise. There’s just so many different songs in the world, that getting the chance to expose students to it and hearing how they feel about it and getting to connect with them over the music, is just one of the best things ever, and I love being able to do that with this group.”
What’s your least favorite part of this choir?
“Probably how early I have to teach it, eight AM is really early, and then jazz is even earlier than that so- But yeah teaching right at eight AM is really challenging for me cause I’m not a morning person, but I’ve made it work!”
How has choir changed since you’ve joined?
“Well I have become a much better teacher since I started, and that makes the classroom more efficient and the kids more successful overall, so the longer I’ve been a teacher, the more successful my students are because I’m just able to teach more efficiently, and then they learn more efficiently, which is great! And then I’ve also found ways to make connections with the students, just in a better way than I had when I was first teaching”
How has choir stayed the same since you’ve joined?
“Generally one really fun thing about choir is that my students really want to be here, for the most part, heh for the most part, the kids that stay in choir for years and have through middle school and high school are here because they genuinely love music and they love this community and that has never altered or faltered or changed since I first started, which I just love.”
You’ve been in choir since middle school, what’s that been like?
How does this choir compare to other choirs you’ve taught?
“This choir is unique in that, since it’s ninth through twelfth, we have a lot of different interpersonal connections that wouldn’t happen in a different classroom. And therefore it feeds on itself, the older students can support the younger students, and then that just continues over time, as the younger students get older, they start supporting the younger students, and then you know it just continues along that path. It’s a really unique system, because we have ninth through twelfth grade here.”
What methods do you normally use to teach choir?
“Oh gosh that’s a big question, do you mean like specifically having them learn notes and rhythms and things like that. Okay, so I do, I do a lot of teaching by rote, where I sing something and they repeat it back to me, or play something and they repeat it back. I do a lot of listening, where students either have like part tracks that they listen to, or, just practice tracks with different recordings. A lot of it, most of the time, I play on the piano and they repeat it, and that’s, that’s the best way to teach choirs. And then there’s lots of different methodology within that, like, having sectionals and having solo auditions and there’s lots of different stuff that goes into that, but for the most part, it’s like, listening and responding.”
How do you feel about the final concert?
“I’m so excited for the final concert!, I love all of the songs we’re doing, regardless of whether on not the students appreciate every single one, I love every single one that we’re doing, and for the most part, the kids, and this goes for all of my choirs, all three of them, the kids are really excited at least about one or two of the songs that we’re doing, because it’s a pops concert, the musics just really relatable, and I think the kids really like that, and yeah, I’m just really excited, I think it’s gonna be so much fun”
What are your opinions on the community, and related, within the school choir?
“Oh I love the community that we’ve built in this choir, a lot of that is just the positive nature of, my teaching style, but also sort of positive, just acceptance and reinforcement that my officers over the past few years have just really committed to. It’s a very safe space, I do my best to make sure that every student feels like its a safe space, and when I ask students what their favorite part of choir is, they always say the community, which is just lovely to hear. Yeah, and so I think we’ve really worked hard to establish that positive, caring, open community, and it’s just continued over the years and I think it’s great!”
What advice do you have for students who are thinking about joining choir?
“Oh I think Everyone should join choir, even if you, I-I teach how to sing, so if you think you can’t sing, that’s what I’m here for, I’m here to teach you how. I think that even if you’re not huge into singing or music, there are different skills that you get out of this class, like social skills, and just like interpersonal skills, things that you can get out of this class that aren’t just music related. So I think Everyone should join choir, absolutely.”
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I will miss choir dearly and I hope it continues to be an accepting and caring community for many years to come.
