Bellator, the tenor base choir, stands tall as they sing on stage. Choir Director Andre Clark strums along on a guitar adding a uniqueness to the song. Students from Chamber performed alongside the new members of the choir program.
The treble ensemble choir performs a choreographed dance while singing. After Cantare performed, Choir officers were waiting to hand each of them flowers to congratulate them on their first performance.
Assistant Choir Director Mx. deGraaf takes the stage, conducting a piece for Cantare. Mx. deGraaf also sponsors the Show Choir Audacity here at Westwood.
On Tuesday, Sep. 26, Westwood Choirs kicked off the chorale season with their annual Fall Concert, As You Sing. Families gathered at Hope Presbyterian Church to hear what the choirs had to showcase after six weeks of preparation.
Opening the show, Cantare, the treble ensemble choir, performed three pieces starting with Awakening by Christi Jones, which quickly captured the attention of the audience. Bellator, the tenor base choir, then sang Flying Solo and Tahiti by H. Jarolde Harris. Tahiti is a percussive piece accompanied by choreographed clapping and Choir Director Andre Clark strumming the guitar.
“Watching Cantare was my favorite because they sounded really good and looked like they were having fun,” Meera Iyengar ‘26 said.
The varsity treble ensemble, Innova, began with Measure Me, Sky! by Elaine Hagenberg and As You Sing, an acapella song written by Sarah Quartel. Joining hands on stage, they ended with Assistant Choir Director Emma deGraaf emotionally conducting the piece, Where the Light Begins.
“I felt so much love during Where The Light Begins, knowing that the piece meant as much to Innova as it did to me,” Mx. deGraaf said. “Seeing the support and connection in holding hands, I was just full of love.”
Chamber, the varsity mixed choir, performed Õhtul by Paert Uusberg, Hymn of Acxiom by Vienna Teng, and Ceciliada by Marcin Wawruk. Then at last, the showcase ended with the entirety of Westwood Choirs and past alumni singing their tradition piece, Lord Bless You and Keep You by Peter C. Lutkin, with the seniors holding hands at the front of the stage.
“It was fun that I got to stand in the front, but it made me sad because it is my last fall concert,” Annika Anand ‘24 said. “It was great and has been something I looked forward to before being a senior.”
As a token of appreciation, pumpkins signed by the officer team were given to the directors. The performance brought choir as a whole closer together and created a sense of community for the incoming freshmen this year.
Westwood Choirs will host their next concert on Nov. 16 at the Round Rock ISD Performing Arts Center (PAC). More information can be found here.
