Renamed Falcon Choir returns with strong freshman and staff additions

Courtesy of Saachi Jain

The Falcon Bass Choir wrapping up its last practice last year in May.

Fridays at lunch can bring about a peculiar sight in the music building: A small dedicated group of students and staff inconspicuously heading upstairs toward the choir room.

This group of roughly 30 comprise the Falcon Choir, a group that choir director Beth Nitzan started last school year. The choir was formerly known as the Falcon Tenor Bass Choir but changed to the Falcon Choir in an effort to provide more inclusivity to singers with higher vocal ranges.

“Originally, the [Falcon] Choir was targeted at lower voices,” explained junior Aiden Chen. “Due to recent interest from a more diverse collection of people, Ms. Nitzan changed our name to increase our ranges.”

Unlike the concert and chamber choir classes, the Falcon Choir is not a school class and also makes it much easier for students of limited vocal ranges to participate by singing in more flexible territories.

As a member of the Falcon Choir, I have enjoyed the diversity of vocal ranges and specifically the accessibility provided to individuals with lower vocals.

The choir started last year as a small close-knit group of music department students. Many orchestra and band students also joined to further their musical horizons and gain musical experience beyond their instruments.

I became one of the choir’s members after learning of it from band director Jason Shiuan and Chen.

“I think the choir is great because it is very low commitment and still provides fun performances,” Chen said. “People don’t realize how fun singing with others is, so I hope more people join Falcon Choir either this year or next.”

Chen added that his experience as drum major in the band has also helped him visualize how the music fits together.

“For band and orchestra members, the Falcon Choir can really help improve pitch and musicality,” he said.

The choir, heavily featuring individuals from the orchestra and band programs, serves as a bridge for music students to experience a different facet of music.

“I enjoy seeing people who really know one instrument transfer those skills to another musical skill,” Nitzan said. “It has been fun to see [the students] out of their own, figuring out what they can reuse, and at what they may say, ‘Oh, that’s different!’”

To make the choir more inclusive and enjoyable, Nitzan chooses classic pop songs. Some of them include “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys and “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, both of which were performed at last year’s end-of-season concert.

This year, the choir is hoping to gain more members — both students and staff. In addition to a new class of freshmen and a variety of other students, two staff members, Physics teacher Tom Casavant and plant manager Paul Weir, have joined the chorus.

“This is truly one of the best community activities I’ve experienced at a high school,” Casavant said. “I’m really impressed with the program and appreciate Ms. Nitzan for putting together such a diverting activity for students and staff to enjoy.”