On Oct. 16, the choir program kicked off the year with their annual fall concert in the auditorium from 6:30 p.m to 8 p.m. Each choir performed a variety of songs they’ve been learning since the very beginning of the school year.

“It went really well,” senior Lizzie Rollmann said. “One of my favorite parts of choir is the concerts and showing off not only what I’ve learned, but also what other choirs have learned as well.”

For the first time, the concert opened with the varsity mixed choir, Chorale. This is an auditioned choir made up of sophomores, juniors and seniors of all genders. They sang three pieces of music, one of which included a solo performed by junior Isaiah Barafwala.

“I think varsity mixed did a really good job going first,” junior Ben Schwartz said. “I think it raised the standard for the program and what’s to come. It’s nice to be in a group full of people who care just as much about [choir] as I do.”

This is the second year that Lumina, an all freshman girls choir, has been a part of the program. Made up of students recently graduated from Stiles, Wiley and other middle schools, this concert was their first ever as high school choir students.

“There’s definitely a difference from middle school choir,” freshman Jasrina Sabharwal said. “The quality of music is better and I can tell everyone is more disciplined and actually cares about choir.”

The junior varsity mixed choir, Bel Canto, graced the stage with a multitude of engaging songs. Whilst other choir concerts throughout the year require formal dressing for students, the fall show is traditionally done in the choir shirt and blue jeans.

“We worked so hard on our music and I think our dedication showed through our performance,” sophomore Anvi Taada said. “We were able to express that to the audience really well.”

The IntoneNation show choir hyped up the audience with a performance of “Dream On” by Aerosmith. This is a number from their School of Rock inspired show this year, featuring a solo from junior Kinsley Keen.

“Our solos in varsity mixed and show choir were awesome,” Rollmann said. “Kinsley killed it and we killed it with our dancing. To be surrounded by such wonderful peers and teachers has just continued to spark that passion for music in me.”

With co-director Cindy Moser at the forefront, the varsity girls choir Seraphim ended the night with three songs, including an acapella arrangement of “Teach Your Children” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

“I think we did great,” sophomore Anina Thomas said. “It kinda made me nervous. Because some days in rehearsal we’ll do really well and some days are a little off, and we’re just praying we’ll do the best we’ve ever done on stage.”

To close the show, every single student in the choir program gathered on stage to honor a new tradition; a performance of “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers. With synchronized claps and body percussion, this song resonated throughout the auditorium.

“It’s such a tight knit community, even with people who aren’t in varsity mixed with me, we have these connections,” senior Jaxon Fosbury said. “It’s a giant web of relationships and I think that makes us better performers because we are friends. You can’t do a duet with somebody you hate, so how are you gonna sing in a choir with people you despise? It’s a family to me.”