A Magical Farewell
May 20, 2014
The choir students exchanged bittersweet goodbyes by taking the audience on a sentimental journey as they sang one last time with their seniors at their spring concert entitled, “Be Our Guest!” on May 8 and 9. The students were from all four choirs—Marquis, Solitaire, Diamondtones, and Chamber.
This year’s Disney themed concert featured songs from some of the most famous Disney movies ever made, including classic songs “Hakuna Matata” from “The Lion King,” “Whistle While You Work” from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” and more modern songs like “You Are the Music in Me” from “High School Musical 2.”
At the start of the concert, there were three solo songs. “Mario Kart Love,” kicked things off with juniors Jennifer King and Leanne Kao dressed as Mario and Peach, followed by “Stay With Me,” sung by senior Alice Lee. Senior Diana Power and junior Will Nazareno, known as Willpower, impressed with an adorable cover of “Love is An Open Door.” Afterward, narrator Jeffrey Labunski started things off by prompting all choirs to sing “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah/Be Our Guest.”
“You just practice your song over and over again, so that even if you forget, you can’t forget because you’ve done it so many times,” soloist Alice Lee said.
From then on, all of the songs were grouped into categories such as “Princesses” and “Scary Folks.” The first group of songs, “Novelties,” had a wonderful sense of chaos as singers rushed on and off the stage. This continued throughout the show as the different choirs and groups of students sang songs interchangeably.
Afterwards followed a flurry of medleys and songs worked together to create a theme that rang true through every note. Junior Joren Francisco tap-danced his way into the audience’s hearts while also singing “I’ve Got No Strings on Me.” Some of the other more notable performances were “A Friend Like Me,” which was executed by all of the male singers, and “A Whole New World,” sung by Solitaire.
The Marquis ladies provided some light-hearted relief with “That’s How You Know” after several songs with famous Disney villains. The end was comprised of a climactic rendition of “Let it Go,” with all the choir singers. A surprise touch to the concert was an impromptu rendition of “Happy Birthday” to senior Hayley Everhart, a fellow choir member.
In a touching move, the choir students gathered onstage and invited choir teacher Patty Breitag to the front of the stage at the end of the concert. They then presented her with flowers and thanked her for all of her hard work and dedication to the department.
“You kind of learn how to pace. You learn what their capabilities are of all the different groups. You pick the right music for them, and I have a concept of that,” Breitag said about choosing the theme of the show.
“Choir has been a part of me for four years, and I’ve had my best days and my worst days in choir. It’s safe to say that that is my second home, and it’s just like my life. I can’t imagine going to school and not going into the choir room,” Solitaire president Tiffani Webb said.
Nostalgia was a prominent theme in the show. From the childhood songs that everybody has known and loved for years to the final song sung by the seniors, almost every aspect of the show radiated a sense of memory and wistfulness.
