Lise Billy

Cheering on their freshman friends, Ana Loaiza ’27 and Aanya Pathak ’28 sit in awe as the non-varsity girls choir performs. “I was really surprised by their performance,” Pathak ’28 said. “Not that I expected them to do bad, I just did not expect them to be as good as they were.”

When autumn settles, pumpkin spice, dwindling leaves, and distant piano all wind up in a cold breeze to welcome the new season. Performing for the first time, the Westwood Choir filled the Hope Presbyterian Church with an annual sweet autumnal melody on Monday, Sept. 29. 

The beginning of autumn also represents the start of a new school year and the showcase for incoming musical mastery. After rehearsing for over two months, the choir blessed the audience with soothing notes, an escape from reality and a chance to appreciate good music. 

“We grow to become a family [when] everyone showcases their singing abilities, not only to their peers but to themselves as well,” Violet Vara ‘27 said. “It’s interesting to watch [our new singers] grow from middle school to high school.”

In a mix of German, French, and English songs, Cantare, Aurora, Innova, Bellator, and Chamber choirs, display culture and challenging pieces, creating a supportive yet testing atmosphere. 

“[With the challenging songs], it’s easy to mess up but if one person makes a mistake, we hold it together and usually quickly fix it,” Cason Teinert ‘27 said. “It’s just nice to go [up there] and sing for everyone.”

In a long standing tradition, all choirs unite at the end of their concert and sing their anthem; The Lord Bless You And Keep You by  John Butter. Joined on the stage by alumni, they create the powerful harmony, accompanied by signature moves.

“We put our hands together and we sing [The Lord Bless You And Keep You] while holding hands with everybody in all of the choirs,” Sofia Endonino ‘27 said. “At the end, we spin around and it kind of represents a new year of choir and kind of turning a new leaf into getting used to performances and getting to know your own choir.”

Creating the choir community for what it is known to be, not only comes from collective performances, but also from individual reflection. Inspired by alumni, Ryan Gu ‘26 promises others and himself to show more leadership, the only way of conducting an organized elective. 

“As someone who has been in choir for a long time, I want to set a good example for everyone,” Gu said. “This [concert] really sets the standard and drives the sport for the rest of the year. We see what we’re capable of and see what to work on, individually to keep up with the collective.”

Like what the back of last year’s choir shirt said; these traditions create a legacy, ultimately making the choir what it is today. Alumni, and current choir enthusiasts, all shared how special it is to be part of a long-standing tradition and the impact of their high school experience in their life.

“It’s really cool to see what the past of most of the choirs was,” Gu ‘26 said. “The past, which are the alumni, the present, which is all of us on stage, and the future, which might be like little kids [watching the concert].”

Westwood choir will next shine on the stage for their winter concert, on Friday Dec. 12 at the Hope Presbyterian Church.