Trojans take on Honor Choir

Students from CVHS choir program were chosen to participate in California Coastal Region Honor Choir from Nov. 16-18. Through the audition, 12 students succeeded in getting in.

Nov. 16-17 were in preparation for the performance on Nov. 18. Ten students were placed into the SSAA group while the remaining two were in the TTBB choir. SSAA sang “To Sit and Dream,” “Hoj Hura Hoj,” “Schlof Main Kind,” “The Answer,” “Like a River in My Soul,” and “What Happens When a Woman?” Rehearsals ran from 3:15 to 5:00 p.m. the first day, with students returning after dinner and staying until 9:30 p.m. The second day rehearsal lasted all day until 5:30 p.m.

“[Ave Maria] was pretty hard because it was repetitive,” said senior Julie Yee, when asked what her least favorite song was. “They were honestly pretty easy, but they were long.”

“[Ave Maria] was like being in a cult,” added junior Abigail Martin.

Throughout the weekend, students also learned how to sing alongside other people as well. Yee shared some challenges. 

“Trying to hear my part when the people next to me are very off pitch,” she said. “They were freshmen, but they were very off pitch.” Martin also commented on poor part memorization.

Post-performance brought feedback as well.

“It was better sounding from the balcony, maybe not where we were standing [on stage], but it was better sounding from up there,” said Yee, referring to the balcony where performers sat. 

Despite the unfamiliarity, both Yee and Martin agree that Honor Choir was a rewarding experience, and would recommend choir students joining next year. 

“I think it was a good experience, you get really close with whoever you’re going with, whoever is from your school,” said Yee. Martin noted that it was a good experience to do once. 

Martin ends on what she learned from the weekend. “Flavors of songs are really interesting,” she joked. “We describe things by flavors and colors,” added Yee.

In the words of the SSAA choir director Lori Marie Rios, “Right now we’re in the honor choir, so we got to be tasteful!”