Choir Hits a High Note

Choir at Jefferson Academy is more than just another class. It's a community that fosters a safe space where students find their voices, make friends, and create something special together. 

"I remember when I was in elementary school, [choir] was one of the things we did in music class, and it made me fall in love with singing and music in general,” said Angie Louth. “After my first semester of it, I decided to sign up for Advanced Choir with my old best friend, and kept it going through 8th grade and freshman year.” 

The road to success is not always easy for choir students. Sometimes hard work can go unnoticed. 

"One main thing people outside might not understand is how difficult it actually is. On average, time for a lower-level choir can take roughly a month to fully learn the words and notes, but with a higher-level choir, it can differ depending on the difficulty,” Louth mentioned.

Still, the rewards go far beyond the stage. 

"[Choir] has helped me speak words fluently since English is not my first language. Socially, it has helped me connect to people easier who I can relate to. Emotionally, it has helped me build out my confidence in everything and not be so scared," Louth added.

For Ava Swartzendruber, choir has also been a natural fit. 

"I wanted to join the choir because I've been in it before, and I've had tons of fun,” said Swartzendruber. “Something that kind of surprised me this year, though, is that we're doing songs in small groups of our choice, which we didn't do last year when I was in choir."

Swartzendruber recalled a rehearsal that showcased the strength of the group. 

"One time in class, we were all sitting in a big circle so we could hear each other better, then within the circle, we got into three smaller circles that were split up by voice parts. When we all got our part down and sang it together, it was a beautiful sound that really showed how strong the group is when we really try."

New songs can provide an exciting way to remain engaged with the choir. 

"My favorite song from this year is kind of a funny-sounding one, it's called Howdidow Deediddleumday. It's a fun, upbeat little folk song, and it just stuck in my head immediately," explained Swartzendruber.

For some students, joining the choir was about ending high school on a high note. 

"I wanted to join the choir because I am a senior this year and wanted to do one final choir class because I love it,” stated Aiden Hohnstein. “It has lived up to my expectations because I’ve been having a lot of fun."

Unique practices allow for an experience that stands out among other classes.

"One time I felt the power of the group's music was when we were all standing in a circle and were singing one of our choir songs,” Hohnstein recalled. “It was really beautiful having all our voices together."