On Wednesday, March 5, the Arts Pathway hosted HHS’ first teacher karaoke contest. The Arts Pathway is a Hingham program with an emphasis on visual or performing arts. Students learn about music, theater, and visual art while doing fun activities. For this specific event, 10 teachers volunteered to perform in a karaoke contest for charity.
By charging a $5 admission fee, the club raised over $500. Half of these proceeds went to funding for the club so they could continue to operate. The other half was donated to Artist for Humanity, whose mission is to provide, “a safe and supportive environment [especially in urban areas] where teens are employed to explore their voice and forge their unique path to success” (Artists for Humanity).
Along with being a great way to raise money, the event raised school spirit. All the teachers that participated not only had fun, but created a welcoming social gathering for their students. Many popular songs including Pink Pony Club by Chappel Roan, Bad Romance by Lady Gaga, and Hey There Delilah by the Plain White T’s were performed. The audience had a great time by clapping, singing, and dancing along to the songs. Senior Chris Hoppe remarked, “My favorite act of the night was 100% Ms. Black’s Careless Whisper rendition–I love that song and the sax solo was amazing.”
At the end of the evening, students voted on which performance they believed was the best. Even though the numbers were extremely close, I’m Just Ken from the Barbie movie, performed by Mr. Cincotta, was victorious.
(Casey Teahan)
The impact of the night spread further than the money they made for the club and charity. Students from all grades enjoyed their evening at an event that was truly special to Hingham as a town. Junior and Arts Pathway member Madeleine Accetella stated, “I think it’s important to support the arts at HHS because it creates a sense of community and shows that we value not just athletes but also artists!”
Taking videos or pictures was prohibited in order for the teachers to feel more comfortable, but this added to the experience. Everyone was living in the moment and they had to attend to enjoy it. Stepping away from electronics and being present was a much needed measure for the kids.
The night also displayed Hingham’s passionate teachers. Students got to see little parts of their teachers’ personalities outside of the classroom. This “humanized” them and hopefully will help students understand them on a deeper level. They took time out of their busy schedules to make a memorable night for the students they cared about.
The First Annual Teacher Karaoke contest was not only a huge success for Arts Pathway but for the school as a whole. It demonstrated how lucky Hingham High School is to have such an amazing arts program.
