On Thursday, April 30, the choir groups at Lakewood High School hosted “Choir Cabaret,” a night of music and fun. Unlike most musical concerts at the school, the event was held in the Black Box Theater. The smaller venue featured tables where families and attendees could converse while watching the show. A dessert table was also available for guests, creating an intimate setting to celebrate the choir students as the school year comes to an end.
The music scene at LHS is vibrant, featuring various choir groups, soloists, duos, and more. This concert specifically featured the general choir, Chamber Choir, NOTEtorious, many soloists, duets, trios, and a trio from Garfield Middle School. All of these groups have put in significant effort and dedication to give their best performance yet.
Several musical concerts have taken place this year, but this one was certainly among the best of them. As the second annual Choir Cabaret at Lakewood High School, the event is still relatively new. The concert began with families and friends filling the Black Box Theater and enjoying their snacks together. It created a warm, welcoming environment for the attendees.
The success of the concert was made possible by the hard work of the choir students and the support of their teacher. “Ms. Brooks helps us because she puts in so much effort to prepare us for all these concerts, and she dedicates so much time to our group, and we are so lucky to have her,” said junior Alex Watts, a member of the Chamber Choir. The collaboration between students and teachers always results in a spectacular performance.
It also helps that the students in the choir genuinely love what they do. “My favorite part about being in choir is probably doing concerts with all my friends and getting to sing together,” Watts added. He also noted that this concert, specifically, was enjoyable for the students. “I enjoyed that it was catered. And I really enjoyed having a smaller, more intimate audience,” Watts said.
Specialized concerts like this give students a chance to showcase their talents without the pressure of a large crowd.
Watts is a member of the Chamber Choir, which consists of four girls and four boys and features some of the top singers at LHS. The Chamber Choir performed multiple group songs at the Choir Cabaret, demonstrating the hard work that their group puts into showcasing their vocal talent.
Choir Cabaret featured more than just the Chamber Choir. Students of all grades and experience performed in duets, trios, and solos. This provided many students with the opportunity to shine and showcase their individual skills.
“My favorite part about this concert was probably practicing with all my friends and choosing our own song to perform. It wasn’t like the typical Lakewood choir concert where everyone sings the same song in an ensemble. It’s all about showcasing the students’ own selected songs, and I think it’s really beautiful to see the effort everyone puts into their music,” said Maeve Murray, a junior choir student.
“The concerts are my favorite part of being in choir. It’s nice to be able to show my family and friends what we’ve learned,” Murray added. She appreciates concerts like these as a way to demonstrate her growth and her friends’ progress.
These concerts are undoubtedly rewarding for the students and teachers alike. At this point in the year, they can showcase what they’ve learned over approximately eight months. It’s also an inspiring experience for the audience to hear young voices shine.
“I definitely think the performance I liked the most was the senior solos because it felt very emotional — like it’s their senior year, and it’s one of their last concerts. It also shows how far they’ve come with their singing careers,” said Mia Cadigan, who attended the concert.
“You can really tell that everybody enjoys doing it, and the teachers support them, and everyone supports each other. They have a strong connection, and you can feel it from the audience,” Cadigan added. The audience’s enjoyment makes for a truly memorable night.
The second annual Choir Cabaret was a definite success for LHS. It’s clear that everyone present had a great time, and the performers delivered an excellent show. The choir students are ending their year on a high note and continue to impress the community at every concert.
