
The sounds of the season can be heard throughout
our community, thanks, in part, to Lakota’s four junior school choirs.
While all four programs perform holiday concerts
at their schools, the choir directors all agree that it is important to give
back to the community. One way they accomplish this is by performing at
community events and nursing homes, as well as caroling at Lakota’s early
childhood and elementary schools.
Hopewell Junior School choir teacher Jennifer
Akers knows there are many benefits to community performances. “First, it’s
a concrete way to build relationships with our residents (who) help support
music education and performing arts in our Lakota schools,” she said. “I also
believe it’s valuable for our community members to see the great work our
talented student musicians are doing and how their tax dollars are being put to
good use furthering our students’ music education. And, it’s also important for
our students to witness how valuable it is to volunteer their time and skills
within their community.”
And it’s not just the teachers who feel this
way. Sophie Subit, a seventh-grader at Ridge Junior School said, “I
choose to perform in the community because singing for people makes me happy,
and the fulfilling feeling of knowing that you have entertained someone is
amazing. I like the idea of sharing talents with the community, so we can all
enjoy what everyone has to offer.”
Both Hopewell and Liberty junior schools kicked
off the holiday season at West Chester’s annual Christmas Walk. Ridge students
entertained members of the West Chester/Liberty Chamber Alliance at its monthly
luncheon. “I am very proud of the community service our Lakota Ridge Choir
department does during the school year, especially during December,” said Ridge
choir teacher Jennifer Dietsch.
A favorite part of December involves a trip down
memory lane for most of the singers as they visit their elementary and early
childhood schools. An added bonus is the opportunity to give younger students a
taste of the opportunities they will have when they reach seventh grade. “My
students love getting the chance to serve as role models for the little ones,”
said Plains teacher Abbie Miller. “They love sharing their talents and
interacting with the younger students.”
In addition to touring the community, each choir
also performs an in-school holiday concert for their fellow students. At Liberty
Junior, the choir used more than just their voices as instruments. “These
performances included choir chimes (a bell choir) and a violin/guitar/ukulele
rendition of Silent Night,” said teacher Nicole Fink. “The eighth
grade performance will also include a joint number between the choir and band.”
Akers plans to continue performing at community
events - both around the holidays and beyond. “Vocal music combines two art
forms - poetry and music - in a way no other art form does. Because of
this, live performances evoke emotions and a shared experience between the
performers and audience in a moment in time that no other activity on this
planet can,” she said. “I am so thankful we have the opportunity to bring our
community together by singing, especially during the holidays.”