The Seven Lakes choir’s Coffee House event on Thursday, September 14, was a pleasant, musical night for students and families of the school. It truly had something for everyone: attendees were not only treated to the dulcet tones of 22 individual or small groups of talented singers, but also to a wide assortment of food and drink. Adding to the pleasing nature of the event was the social and light-hearted mood that filled the commons throughout.
“I think the best part about the choir coffee house is the atmosphere,” coffee house performer and sophomore Katelyn Guske said. “You can still talk and socialize, but you also get some background music. It’s a more laid back concert compared to our other ones, so it’s kind of an opportunity for you to get to know the members of the choir and have a good time.”
Guske sang “Grapejuice” by Harry Styles in a group consisting of herself and three other choir members. Their performance was adorned by cohesive harmonies and impeccable coordination.
“We had thought of the idea a few months in advance, so we had a plan and just decided to audition and see where it went,” Guske said.
Although Harry Styles is a staple of today’s pop culture, the selection of songs for the event were far more eccentric than one might expect. With performances ranging from a South Indian classical piece, “Ninnukori,” to a re-enactment of “Friends on the Other Side” from Princess and the Frog, the Coffee House never ceased to surprise the audience with its wide variety of tunes.
“I think it’s really cool to see different kinds of music in the Coffee house,” freshman and Coffee House performer Nico Antolin said.
Antolin’s number was no exception to this. They gave a unique and delightful rendition of a song that they composed themself, titled “Like a Weed,” simultaneously strumming away on a ukulele.
“The song is basically about missing someone,” Antolin said. “It describes that feeling of not having someone there for you.”
All this being said, the experience was made possible only through the efforts of the choir council, who set up every aspect of the event from the chairs, to the spotlights on stage. The council was also hard at work when it came to organizing the event’s agenda and making sure everything went smoothly.
“For singers, we have auditions around two weeks before the Coffee House,” Guske said. “This year, we actually had a lot of people audition and only, like, 20 were selected.”
A singer’s voice is his or her most important asset. Regular singers such as choir members need to constantly make sure their voices are in good condition so that their singing isn’t impaired.
“We warm up our voices really well, and I try not to scream at the top of my lungs all the time,” Guske said. “Yeah, if you get sick, you get sick, but we try not to.”
Ultimately, however, it takes a lot of practice for choir singers to be where they are, especially to be able to sing so professionally in front of large crowds of people. The expectation people hold for concerts is understandably high, as choir members have always strived to maintain consistency in their endeavors.
“It is just a lot of practice,” Antolin said. “It’s like playing an instrument, say, the piano: you could always get rusty.”
