From singing and performing to friendships formed in class, choir provides South students with a community and welcoming home throughout their time in high school starting with the Fall Choral Concert, senior Lily Geimer said.
This year’s Fall Choral Concert was held in the auditorium on Oct. 29, Geimer said, and featured songs sung by all South choral groups in all genres, Geimer said.
“I [had] not really met any people from the other choirs so I [was] excited to get to know them and build the choir bond,” Geimer said.
The Fall Choral Concert also provides development and growth for choir members, especially freshmen, Martin Sirvatka, Interim Choir Director said.
“The freshmen develop awareness and grow up emotionally [throughout high school], but physically, they grow up and become good singers,” Sirvatka said. “I love to see that. I like to see the growth in kids [I teach].”
Freshman Avery Torres’s favorite class is choir because of all the new friends she’s made from it. Torres was both nervous and excited for her first choir concert at South.
“I feel inspired by [the seniors] because they’ve done [the concert] for multiple years and it shows how professional they are,” Torres said.
Although senior Anna Pataky did not participate in choir before high school, the South choir community has provided her with some of her best friends. Pataky enjoys singing with others who share her passion and is bittersweet about her time ending at South.
“It’s sad, because it [was] the last time I [was preparing] for [a fall concert],” Pataky said. “I remember when I first joined choir, I was a sophomore, and I was watching all the seniors and thinking, ‘Oh, they’re so old.’ Now that’s me.”
It’s emotional to think that this is the start of her last year of South choir, Geimer said. But the best thing to do right now is try to soak up the moment, Geimer added.
“[Choir] used to mean [just] singing and performing, but ever since I entered choir at high school, it’s definitely meant community [more] than just performing,” Geimer said.
