On Monday night at 7:00, the Hingham High School gymnasium was packed — but not for the usual sports game. Instead, the entire town of Hingham’s chorus program came together for a yearly tradition to share their skills with friends and family. The concert first featured the 5th graders, who, as their first year learning to sing as a group, did a tremendous job and made the parents, siblings, family, and friends in the audience extremely proud. Then, there were the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, who all came from the fifth grade chorus. Finally, the high schoolers who take the chorus class taught by Mr. Landis ended the show.
The progression of the concert from 5th grade to middle school to high school allowed the younger students to understand and see what hard work and dedication to singing truly brings as you get older, HHS chorus member Audrey Jones believes that “the concert showed off the progression from elementary chorus to high school choruses.” The younger peers watching the high schoolers sing at the end was a beautiful sight that showcased both the talent that they held, and the way that the young singers looked up to their older counterparts.
Not only did the concert serve as a way for the young singers to look up to the older ones, but it also served as a sign of encouragement for them to continue to sing and take classes from the middle school to the high school. When the Harborlight asked HHS sophomore chorus member Graeme Baker to reflect upon what the All-Town concert means to him, he responded, “I believe that the chorus concert provides a space for the younger kids in the music program to see what they can grow to and evolve to over time. Hopefully it will inspire them to continue with singing!”
Another encouraging aspect of the concert was the senior speeches that took place throughout its duration. Each HHS senior chorus member, including Nick Roche, Ben Cavallo-Smith, and Ruby Blake, spoke. Each speech showcased the member’s journey through the Hingham music program, and how much music meant to them. Their journeys not only touched the hearts of the crowd, but they also inspired many of the younger singers as well. Junior Audrey Jones continued, “My favorite parts were the interspersed senior speeches that talked about the community of Hingham chorus and music that I’ve been able to enjoy being a part of!” The entire performance really highlighted the tight-knit community that was the Hingham chorus.
Finally, the chorus ended with a harmonious performance that included the 5th graders, middle schoolers, and high schoolers all together. For those few minutes, the entire gym was completely silent, simply listening to the music being created. The final performance represented the unity of the all-town concert and a testament to how music is able to bring communities together.
