Airplane mode, lights off, mics on… as choir students arrived on stage, the jam-packed audience sat in awe for the next hour. Held at the Raymond E. Hartfield Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Monday. Nov. 10, the Westwood Choir hosted the annual Vertical Concert in which the Westwood learning community had the opportunity to perform with high school students.

“When [the elementary school choirs] first got on stage, my first thought was that they were really cute and sounded so small, and then I got to thinking that not too long ago, I was them,” Masha Illarionova ‘28 said. “It feels like it was yesterday when I was performing at Vertical Concert for the first time in middle school and wishing to stay in choir forever.”

With a variety of songs from traditional African tribal songs to reflective music of the purpose of the world, the show had a song for everyone’s taste. The assortment of music and school colors painted a picturesque view from the crowds. Even including their musical cousins, certain performances were accompanied by instruments such as orchestra cello player Ivana Hsu ‘29 in My Cage by J. Reese Norris. 

“We were very cohesive considering we had a lot of variety in the repertoire we were singing, meaning that we really had to step in as an overall group and improve our choir skills together,” Aanya Pathak ‘28 said. “To perform with such younger kids makes me remember when I was the young one looking up to the ‘big kids’.”

Not only inspiring new generations to join choir, the Vertical Concert provided seniors with a chance to see how far they had come. Passing on their love throughout grades, singing is not just about musical melodies, rather the harmony of transmitting art through song. 

“It made me think that after I leave, there will still be kids loving choir just as much as I do,” Racquel Langley ‘26 said. “Since I’m a senior I thought it was especially cool to see all the kids that will do the same extracurricular that I love when they get to high school.”

The final performance, which was Aya Ngena arranged by Ruth Morris Gray, seemingly triggered powerful emotions for  audience members. No less than 200 voices, the song was powerful –as was the message. Directly translating to a declaration of strength and unity, the traditional Zulu piece reminded parents of their times in choir. When the choir director, Andre Clark, asked all audience members to stand up if they were ever in choir, at least a third of the hundreds of spectators stood up to be recognized.

“All standing there that night was when we started creating this legacy. All those before us did the same thing and look at the turnout, their legacy stayed and us new singers are keeping it alive,” Illarionova said. “Choir is about being in harmony with each others’ differences and helping each other grow as human beings.” 

The Westwood Choir will take the stage again on Thursday Nov. 20 at the PAC for their Masterworks Concert.