The 8th grade choristers showed remarkable resilience and flexibility in this, the most challenging year to be a singer. They began class in January, while we were still in the hybrid learning model, and were asked to sing and record melodies in their homes for use in a solo arranging Anthem Project. In school we chose both our purpose and projects for our two terms together. We also explored a collaborative app called Soundtrap and enhanced our editing skills in iMovie.

Then the "pivots" began! We moved from the hybrid model, which enabled us to make solo recordings during class for use in virtual choirs, to fully in-person with a 30 minute singing limit in any indoor space. We revamped our initially chosen virtual choir projects to a more informal jam session experience where students transferred their knowledge of song form and chords to various instruments playing a new song every week. We ended term 4 with an introduction to Songwriting.

The 8th grade singers were absolutely wonderful to work with and we are grateful for their dedication to the WMS Chorus program as well as their ability to find joy in the music making opportunities we were able to offer. Their creativity is a beautiful thing to behold and we hope you enjoy their music as much as we do. We will certainly miss this special group and can't wait to see them on the WHS stage next year!

See you in the audience,

Lauren Connors and Valerie Stark