When it comes to harmony, Cal High’s Choir Club hits all the right notes.
Though it undeniably create beautiful music, Cal’s choir club is also about creating a community.
Senior club president Numa Patel said she promotes a strong, shared passion for music among her fellow club officers and members.
Choir Club, which is independent from the school’s choir program, provides students with the opportunity to connect with music and support one another no matter their individual experiences.
Lori Willis, choir club’s adviser, enjoys giving students the opportunity to develop their passion for singing.
“They are able to use their musicianship skills [in the club],” Willis said.
A main focus of this club is inclusivity. Patel emphasizes that the club is a safe space for everyone, even members who don’t feel comfortable performing on a stage.
“Anyone is welcome to join,” Patel said.
This is the choir club’s first year back after COVID. During online learning, the club hosted their meetings on Zoom, which was challenging for musicians because it can be difficult to blend multiple voices online. This caused club membership to plummet.
Since then the club has been facing decline and lack of participation.
“After quarantine [it] was a hard time [for the club],” Patel said.
Last year, the club was unable to perform because there weren’t enough members. Regardless of this, they persisted.
“We wanted to bring that sense of community back [after COVID],” Patel said.
Evidently, their hard work to expand the club paid off as it now has enough participants to share their music with audiences.
This year the club was excited to perform in the holiday concert. Participating in some of the school’s choir program events provides exciting opportunities for choir club members, who may be new to the choir experience or aren’t in the choir class.
“Being in the club [has] really helped me enjoy singing,” freshman Ashmita Annanagar Chandramouli said.
Choir club’s immersive environment creates a unique experience, especially for many students who typically don’t get the chance to perform in choir concerts but are now able to as club members.
“It’s a close-knit community,” senior club vice president Shivali Pathak said.
Another demand Patel and Pathak must meet is teaching their club members while being students themselves.
“It’s good for their leadership skills to teach each other,” Willis said.
Collaborating and guiding fellow classmates has its challenges, but the students said it is very fulfilling.
“It’s rewarding when your performance is successful,” Willis said.
Cal’s choir club continues to conduct new opportunities for their members to sing their hearts out.