Eaton High School has four amazing choirs: Men’s Choir, Women’s Choir, Bella Voce, and Troubadours. Men’s and Women’s are open to all students, while Bella Voce and Troubadours are limited to students who choose to audition and are able to make it in. Each one of these choirs started practicing very early in the year, and just recently showcased their sets.
A typical day of choir consists of many activities. Students first grab their folders and find their seats, then they work on one page in their music theory books. After completion, the choir teacher and director, Christina Contreras, goes over the answers. She does so either on the board, or by asking students what they wrote down. There is also an inspirational quote on each page of the book, and students are asked to share, either with a partner or to the rest of the class, how they interpret and resonate with that quote. Elizabeth Spaid (29), a class leader from Women’s Choir, said, “The daily quotes help me to actually think deeply about things. They help me to see how others might perceive me and what I can do to change to become better.” Next comes the vocal warmup. Mrs. Contreras makes sure all voices have a chance to loosen up before beginning song rehearsal. Then, each choir begins to practice their song set until the end of class, sometimes with “sectionals” where sections will practice their part one at a time.
Many students thoroughly enjoy singing, and consider choir one of their favorite classes. Junior Trevan Felix, a member of Troubadours, said, “I think singing just brings me a lot of joy, and I love expressing myself through music.” Singing, though fun, also has health benefits. The National Library of Medicine claims that it can relieve stress, stimulate the immune system, increase pain tolerance, improve lung function, and aid in handling grief. Using your voice is something that is both enjoyable and rewarding.
The fall concert took place on Oct. 22 and went very smoothly. Women’s Choir kicked off the event with their four songs: “Riversong,” “Agnus Dei,” “The Pink Panther,” and “Disney Movie Magic.” The abundant amount of soloists who were featured throughout the set were Marlee Payne (28), McKinzee Kohl (26), Athena Salazar (28), Peyton Smith (29), Anahli Lozano (29), Mollie Helzer (29), and Maesyn Peetoom (29). At the end of their Disney mashup, the girls comically ended the song with “The Circle of Life,” and bowed toward center stage where one member held up a stuffed lion. The audience’s applause and laughter erupted throughout the auditorium.
Men’s choir took the stage next, singing “Shady Grove,” “Pete, Pete!,” “God Bless the U.S.A.,” and “My Girl.” The soloists for this group were Chaycen Shupe (29), Beckett Pierce (26), and Mori Adams (26). Before singing “God Bless the U.S.A.,” members Matthew Farley (27) and Teagan Maxwell (27) spoke to the audience and asked any veterans or present service members to stand up. They thanked the individuals for their sacrifice and dedicated the song to them, which was a wonderful way to thank those who had risked their lives for America.
Bella Voce then came on to sing their set of “Girls’ Sing Off,” “Hello Girls,” “Ave Maria,” and “Stand Up.” Their plethora of soloists consisted of members Skylinn Ferrel (27), Karleigh Arens (26), Celie Tharp (26), Jayde Shoemaker (27), Addyson Manning (27), and Alyson Hale (26). “Ave Maria” also had a flute part, so band member Patrick Buxman (26) was asked to learn the piece and perform it alongside the choir. He gladly agreed, and perfectly executed his part, adding another level of depth and beauty to the song.
Troubadours were the last group to perform, and presented three songs: “Run, Mary Run,” “Day-o (The Banana Boat Song),” and “Faith.” The pieces contained five solos, sung by Tharp, Maxwell, Manning, Shelby Maguire (27), and Carli Bruegman (26). There was also a quartet in one of the songs, made up of members Manning, Felix, Shoemaker, and Kolton Winter (28). The group ended up having to sing acapella for a moment in “Faith” when the track cut out and Mrs. Contreras rushed to the piano, but the Troubadours didn’t miss a beat. Their dancing and harmonies kept flowing, proving their dedication to continue singing no matter what happens.
The choirs concluded the night with a joined piece, titled, “Let Freedom Ring.” All voices sang out in unity, and it was a beautiful way to end the exceptional performance. Like Spaid said, “It’s truly a special experience to be with a big group of people who all have a genuine love for music and singing.” The choirs are now working on choosing their music for the Christmas concert, which will take place Dec. 15.
