On Dec. 16 at seven p.m., middle schoolers in the 5/6 chorus and 7/8 chorus were featured in the Woods Winter Art Celebration titled “Hold the Light”. This performance featured songs such as Stand Up by Cynthia Erivo and City of Immigrants by Steve Earle. 

“This year, it felt especially appropriate to focus on what has historically united us in this country,” said Creighton Irons, Music Director. “Opportunity, individual freedoms and a collective admiration of and appreciation of the frontier spirit and the desire to be free. That spirit is perhaps most embodied by immigrants, and it is disheartening how folks who come here looking for a better life are vilified. We wanted to celebrate them!”

Though the chorus classes are more focused on singing, the classes had many opportunities for students to play instruments, when not accompanied by the high school music lab class. The HS band specifically accompanied them on I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me), Put a Light in the Window and Jingle Bell Rock. 

“It’s really exciting to collaborate with lower grades, especially because I remember when I was their age, I looked up to the high school band,” said sophomore Maya Hinkle. “It’s a cool opportunity for the middle schoolers to do what they may want to do in high school, as well as a fun full-circle moment for me.”

The performance was guided by many readings throughout the show by students. 6th grader Naomi Ferrin was able to read the second reading of the show. 

“It was pure magic,” she said. “I liked walking in and seeing all the people in the audience. Everyone’s taken time out of their days to come watch us. It’s really cool.”

The chorus classes will perform this Friday again at the MLK Day events BIPOC has organized, and will perform additionally on MLK Day during the Mitchell Chapel AME Zion Church MLK Community Celebration.