At least once each semester, Cal High’s chamber and chorus perform at a concert. The most recent one was the Choir Spring Showcase. The showcase was held in the CHS cafeteria and around 120 people attended!

On March 11th, LA County lifted the mandate on masks from being required to strongly recommended. On that same day, the Choir showcase was happening; many performers didn’t wear masks. When asked, Mr. Hawkins, the choir and piano director, stated that masks make singing a little more difficult when worn. (Although, a couple of performers, myself included, did wear masks. We just had to sing louder and articulate clearer than the others.)

Mr. Hawkins also said he hasn’t seen his choir without a mask on for over two years, and the night was a very emotional experience for him. 

Despite the name, the event involved other musical groups such as the CHS orchestra and the Rio Hondo choir. 

“Wait, wait what?” 

That’s what I thought when I heard a college-level choir was joining the mix. I’m just a measly freshman from the beginning of choir class and I got to be in the presence of way older musicians. I don’t know about you guys, but I found it to be very cool.

What’s cooler is the fact that their accompanist was a Cal Hi graduate and it was the first time our school collaborated with Rio Hondo.

All in all, the showcase was super awesome and really fun. 

(PS: The CHS orchestra was extremely good! Kind of made me want to learn to play a stringed instrument since I only know brass instruments.)

(PPS: If you are interested in joining choir, go to BB3 [next to the band field/next to the cafetorium and ask for Mr. Hawkins. If interested in joining a piano class, you could go to the same class, or BB6, since that would be the piano class.)