On November 21st at 7 p.m., the Chorus Common Threads concert took place at Apex Friendship High School. Choir directors Ms. Copley (Apex High), Mr. Wanamaker (Apex Friendship High), Ms. Wood (Salem Middle), and Mr. Browning (Apex Middle) have collaborated on this event for about four years. The concert lasted 1.5 to 2 hours, featuring around 14 songs performed by the middle and high school choirs.

On November 21st, the Combined High Schools Honors Treble Choirs opened the performance with four songs: Rise Up, Siuil A Ruin, Desert Song (She’s Calling), and Dies Irae. The performance of Siuil A Ruin featured a solo by Shiloah Paxton (’25). The Apex Middle School Choir followed with two songs: Cantamos! (We Sing!) and Come, My Little Children. Next, the Combined High School Tenor/Bass Choirs performed Dolly Waits, accompanied by flashing, moving lights that depicted the song’s story. The lights turned off dramatically as the song ended. When the lights came back on, the Tenor/Bass Choirs exited the stage, and the Salem Middle School Choir entered. The Salem Middle Choir performed two songs: Laudate Dominium and A Million Dreams. The Combined High School Advanced Mixed Choir followed with the second-to-last set, performing three songs: Fire (#3 from Elements), The Lord Is My Light, and The Ballad of Sweeney Todd. For the finale, the high school and middle school choirs performed two songs together: Lakeside Lullaby and Galop.

I had the opportunity to interview Noah Champney (‘25), a tenor in the Combined High School Tenor/Bass Choir, to ask him what his favorite songs to perform were and his favorite part of the concert. According to Noah, his favorite songs to perform were Dolly and Gallop. He enjoyed meeting and performing with new people. 

I had the opportunity to interview Anna Baesman (‘26), an alto 1 in the Combined High School Advanced Mixed Choirs. Anna’s favorite songs to perform were Dies Irae and Gallop. She enjoyed meeting and singing with the middle schoolers and showing them what it is like to be involved in the community. 

In conclusion, Common Threads allows middle school students to sing with high school students and persuades them to expand their skills and careers in the high school chorus in the upcoming years. Although singing with high school students may feel intimidating due to their age and experience, it offers a fantastic opportunity to unite students who love singing and chorus, resulting in a captivating and memorable performance for both participants and the audience.