Kenmore West Chorus

Have you ever thought about joining a chorus? Or have you ever wondered what a chorus is? With the school year ending and schedules being made, chorus may be a fun elective to take part in! 

Kenmore West High School has an amazing music program. There are no limitations when it comes to the chorus here at West because we have three main choir electives to choose from. The first choir is Chorale, which is a mixed group full of vocal parts such as basses, baritones, tenors, altos, and sopranos. The Treble Choir is a class for voices that fall in the soprano and alto range. To join the treble, you have to get a recommendation from the chorus teacher. The final choir is Chamber Singers. Chamber is a smaller group filled with skilled vocalists and is typically more advanced than your average choir. To join the Chamber Choir you have to audition near the end of the school year. If you're an upcoming 8th grader, you will be placed in the Concert Choir, which is the chorus strictly for 8th graders only!

Don't just take my word for it, read about chorus students' thoughts on our wonderful program. Sophomore Grace Cohely, who is in Treble Choir, said this: “My favorite part about chorus is all the friends I made and how fun and carefree the classes are.” Chamber member and senior Bells Gressley has this to say about chorus: “What I love about chorus is that it's just a very welcoming, accepting environment. There's no judgment, and it's a space where you can have fun and connect with people who share your passions.” Lastly, freshman Ryan Zimmerman, who is in Chorale, said this: “The group is so tight packed like a family. It's a real community that everyone and anyone is welcome to join, and Mrs. Leary always has open arms.”

Not only are the classes fun, but they are also taught by Mrs. Leary. You may recognize her from her loud shoes clicking in the hallway or by her sweet personality. Leary is one of Kenmore West’s best teachers due to her passion for music and her kindness towards her students. She works with students to achieve their goals in singing and contributes greatly to the Kenmore West chorus program.

Our other chorus teacher is Mrs. Briggs. Mrs. Briggs teaches Concert Choir, which is all 8th graders. She is a very hardworking teacher, and her students’ performances reflect that. She also teaches Music Theory, where we learn the rules and structure of music.

There is a Fall, Winter, and Spring Concert every school year, with each concert having different vibes. Fall is normally more mellow, while Spring is upbeat and fun. During our Winter Concert, we usually sing Christmas and holiday songs to celebrate that magical time of the year. The Spring Concert tends to be bittersweet because of the senior goodbyes and the end of the school year.

Throughout the school year, the chorus offers many unique opportunities ranging from school trips to performance experiences. Every other year, the chorus and band combine to go on the New York City trip! In the City, we do many things, including seeing a Broadway show and going to a jazz club. This school year we had the opportunity to watch the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Students also get the chance to audition and perform for All County, which showcases students' talents and love for music. Another way students can show their love for music is by doing NYSSMA, the New York State School Music Association competition, which gives students a chance to perform a solo for judges and get an evaluation.

Chorus may not be for everyone, but it's definitely a fun course to take, and I definitely recommend checking it out!