When the Eaglecrest Choir Conacert was announced for March 24, 2019 I initially pictured a group of uncomfortable teenagers in the same black outfit singing the same songs from a booklet. I expected strict rules and being yelled at for fidgeting.  And while the choir did have required outfits, the rest of the expectations were shattered. With the show beginning at six-ish, audience members were first greeted with a video describing the courtesy one should have during a choir show and then went on to describe the different ways one may enjoy the music, listing how one may listen with their eyes closed or closely follow the programs provided, and even how they may not focus on the singers at all and instead focus on the conductor. The concept of music being enjoyed in numerous ways certainly isn’t a foreign concept, however listening to choral music in this way was.

The first choir that performed was the highest that Eaglecrest offers, swathed in red and black, Jazz Choir. Starting off with the song “Words” by Anders Edenroth, the arrangement initially began with rhythm creation through tapping, clapping, and snapping with clear sectioning. Almost reminiscent of the acapella one would hear from Pentatonix. The second song was from the soundtrack of Disney’s animation of “Alice in Wonderland” which was more traditionally choral with swaying, standing, and handheld mics. The final song the group performed was “Bye Bye Blackbird” by Steve Zegree. A jazz based song accompanied with live instrumental and even improvised solos and soulful voices.

Concert choir, bathed in Harry Potter-esque robes, is the beginning course for singers at EHS. A group consisting of mostly Freshman, they performed more traditional choir songs. The first of that was “Come to the Music” by Joseph M. Martin which included impressive amounts of scaling, sectioning, and intermingling of both singing voices. The second song was a piece called “Omnia Sol Temperat” translation from Latin to “The Sun Warms Everything” a piece that speaks of human love and self-empowerment, allowing yourself to warm others and yourself like the sun.

The second highest course is the Symphonic Choir, who ushered in spring with their black outfits and yellow accents and were the first to sing in another language. The opening song was sang in Yoruba, the traditional language of the Yoruba people of Africa. The song was a traditional greeting called “E Oro O.” According to Austyn Owenson, a Cantare singer, “”When singing in English you can guess based on the beat. But with other language not only do you need to learn how to pronounce things, but you have to remember the exact vowels, notes, and beats.” And despite all those factors and even a ten day break from practising, the Symphonic singers sang wonderfully.

Cantare is the only all female choir within the school and with their long, black dresses, they matched the traditional image of a choir. Two of the four songs that the girls performed were actually in foreign languages. The first of which was “Pseudo Yoik” a Finish song that when translated in both English and its native tongue, means absolutely nothing. “Hotaru Koi” by Ro Ogura is a Japanese arrangement that played perfectly into traditional choir sounds with hooks and sectioning. The other two were “Canticle of Love” and “Still I Rise.” Both were sung in English yet held confident and powerful meanings of female empowerment, self-love, and were paired with beautiful solos.

The final rank of choir before Jazz is Madrigals. They were dressed in Eaglecrest red instead of the other choir’s black. This group also sung two songs in another language, that being French, entitled “Dessus Le Marché d’Arras” and “Peze Cafe.” The first of which was more somber in tone and almost haunting with the mixing of their voices and the second was light-hearted and energetic with a drumbeat and whooping. The others were “Bring Me Little Water Silvy” which had more rhythm creation through swishing clothes, clapping, and snapping. The other was “Set Me As a Seal” which featured an initial piano note and haunting melodies.

While choir does feature necessary etiquette and matching outfits, choir also provides more then that. “Choir”, according to Cantare singer, Emma Leven “has changed my life in so many ways. It has given me a new community full of people who love singing and the arts, just as much as me.” Choir and the concert provided, for a short period of time, the beauty and power that one’s voice may hold and the numerous forms of music, and even how one may perceive sound compared to others. Thus, I would encourage everyone to come see a performance by the Eaglecrest choirs.