By Robert Ortiz, Staff Writer
With the midpoint of the school year past, the River Hill choir has been struggling to encourage its members to sing due to the emergence of the Anti-Singing Club, a club dedicated to opposing singing in the choir classroom altogether.
Those who have been in the choir for many years have noted how devastating this absurd change in attitude has been. Senior Stella Birdin, member of the Chamber Choir, said, “People have gotten lazy and have forgotten why they even joined the choir. It has led to countless situations where people refuse to sing in class.” Students who support the anti-singing club show little to no interest in vocalization once warm-ups begin.
The anti-singing club has been unable to secure a sponsor because of its unusual goal. All four music teachers have declined the club, which has led to frustration among many members.
Those within the anti-singing club have expressed their annoyance. Adil Ozturk, member of the concert choir and the anti-singing club, stated that, “These people don’t understand how difficult it is to sing. Why should I have to stand up and read words off of a piece of paper?” Those within the Anti-singing group have revealed that the constant standing and singing in general has drained them.
Members who joined the choir to sing have been caught off guard by many of their peers’ sudden changes in demeanor. Junior Jay Babilah, member of the Concert Choir and supporter of singing, noted, “Why would you join an ensemble if you don’t want to sing? I love the community that singing brings.” To choir supporters, the idea of not wanting to sing in a choir room seems questionable and confusing.
The concerns of not singing in the choir lay beyond the students. Choir director Ms. Hughes, in response to the new club, has tried her best to sway her students from supporting it. She states, “All of these kids were so enthusiastic at the beginning of the year. It is so strange to see them all switch up now that they are getting lazy.”
The laziness couldn’t have come at a worse time. With the Spring concert on the horizon, the lack of productivity is raising concerns about whether the three groups will be prepared enough. In response to the deadlines, Ms. Hughes said, “We only have a month to make sure we have all the music down. Some of my students refusing to sing is making that deadline more daunting.”
The members who participate in class have noticed they have to contribute more than in the months prior. Max Cedars, a freshman and member of the Concert Choir, mentioned, “The people in choir who do sing have had to take on a heavier workload and contribute more, which is very tiring.” Due to many refusing to sing, the choir has had to put in more effort to support the sections that would support themselves in the past.
The Anti-Singing Club has been delighted by the extra work the choir now has to do. Sophomore and supporter of the Anti-Singing Club, Ankit Sama, said, “It’s just more of a reason for them to join our movement and stop singing.”
Now that many of their peers are against singing, the task of preparing before the concert is more difficult. Cedars, who backs the choir heavily, stated that “We who support the choir will continue to sing to fight back against the Anti-Singing Club and keep the choir strong.”
What was once a unified choir is now split between two opposing groups: those who choose to sing and those who resist it. The consequences of that divide will soon be heard on stage in front of an audience of students, parents and staff.