Hundreds of voices fill the auditorium as fifth through twelfth graders’ notes blend into one resounding chorus. That harmony is Glenview Sings, a program designed to bring students together through music, connecting singers of all
ages, senior Bekah Vogt, Master Singers Member said.
Launched three years ago, Glenview Sings was the brainchild of Choral Director Robby Shellard and District 34 choir teachers, Shellard said. Although the date varies by year, this year took place on Nov. 6. District 34 students, Grades 5 through 8, arrived at South’s auditorium around 9 a.m., Shellard said. For Vogt, she loves that Glenview Sings is chance to create a connections with a mixture of ages.
“[Glenview Sings is] a way to spread the choir community,” Vogt said. “[It’s about] getting people to sing together and [share a] common passion.” Once they meet, the upperclassmen leaders split the kids into sections based on their voice types: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, senior Peter Loughran, Master
Singers Member said. In sections, they rehearse the chosen song, play games, and get to know each other, Loughran said. The high school choir students learn the song in their choir class so they can help guide the younger students during the event, Shellard said. Loughran’s goal is to create an environment where all the middle schoolers feel welcome and find joy in the music, he said.
“With Glenview Sings, the whole point [is] to get these kids to come out of their shells and feel comfortable singing and
expressing themselves, because [at the] core of it, that’s what music is,” Loughran said. Senior Cailyn Durbin, Master
Singers Member hopes to use Glenview Sings as an opportunity to promote the various arts programs at South, Durbin said.
“Arts classes [are] what makes South so special and unique,” Durbin said. “[It’s] what’ defined my high school experience, and I want kids to know that arts [classes] fit in [their] schedule.”
As for the future, Shellard hopes Glenview Sings continues to grow, even expanding to include more elementary choirs. No matter what the mission will remain the same, connecting Glenview through music, Shellard said. “We hope to continue that passion [for music] and feed that fire through this festival, and get them excited about [registering] for choir, and finding ways that they can keep music and choir in their life,” Shellard said.
