Steaming dresses and straightening bow ties, the school choirs routinely prepare for their annual concerts, holiday performances, masses and contest pieces. The music department, led by vocal music teacher Robin Christie, features three choirs: freshman choir Novum Cantores, sophomore choir Sacrum Cantores and upperclassmen choir Cantare Deum.
The music department holds two concerts in the spring– the first being a new combined event with St. James high school and St. Thomas Aquinas high school. The choirs in the music department alone spend the year preparing 20-30 pieces of music for various concerts, service events and masses.
According to Christie, the goal of the music department is to achieve the highest standards possible and provide a safe and welcome space for all who enter the doors.
“Choir is a great class to take because it is such an unique experience that you can’t really have accessible to anywhere else,” freshman June Butler said. “Choir gives me skills I can use in other areas of my school life because it helps me take constructive criticism and learn to be comfortable being wrong and fixing my mistakes.”
In the 2024-2025 school year, the choir department collaborated with St. James high school and Aquinas high school for a combined concert on April 3. At this event, the various choirs from each school performed their selected pieces as well as a three-way combined piece — “Blessing” — which follows the melody of “Edelweiss” from “The Sound of Music.”
The choir department will perform a pop-style concert on May 7 to end the year with dancing and casual attire throughout the performance. Each year the music in the concert is themed with past years being ABBA music, Elton John songs, etc.
In addition to concerts, each of the three choirs compete at Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) regional competitions in both small, select and large groups throughout April in hopes of advancing to state competitions. At contest, students have the option to take a solo to regionals or state – all performances seeking to receive a score of one, the highest possible score.
Christie expressed that for music classes at a high school level, certain standards are set by the state and by KSHSAA.
“These standards are proven at the contest level, which is set by enrollment,” Christie said. “We consistently perform at a level three or four when we are only required to perform at a level two.”
Bringing skills from contest to class, freshman Ivan Baca expressed that choir has helped him in his percussion class, allowing him to look at music and read rhythms and pitches. But for Butler, a challenge this school year has been learning proper breath control throughout pieces.
Sophomore Adeline Balino shared a highlight for the choral season was when her freshman year group received a one at the state competition in 2024.
“It takes a lot of commitment and resolve to learn the songs up to standard– and you work together with so many people,” Balino said. “It presents so many opportunities for growth and friendships. Choir has really brought me out of my shell and improved my singing skills, leadership skills and my ability to work with others.”
In addition to KSHSAA competitions, students commit each Sunday in the months of February through April to singing at local parish masses to raise money for the department — providing outreach for both the school and music program.
“I love the masses, whether school or Sunday – this is when I see selfless giving of their talent to serve,” Christie said. “In our spring concert, I love to see the seniors highlighted and the group dance; it is so much fun learning all together.”
Similarly, Baca expressed that a highlight of the choral season was the Christmas concert as it helped him get in the Christmas spirit and sing songs that fit the choir’s voices and styles. The Christmas concert features holiday and faith based songs from each choir, a performance from the handbell choir and Christmas pop song solos. However, Baca shared that a challenge of being in choir is the first days after getting music when it takes time to work and feel out.
“Choir is a fantastic class to take because it covers a variety of topics such as music theory, conduction and even anatomy at times,” Baca said. “It allows everyone to use their God given voice to praise and rejoice in.”
According to Christie, the students that join choir come from a multitude of different schools with different abilities, unlike public schools that foster feeder schools.
“There is often a desire from the students for me to lead them to a higher plane of understanding and performing,” Christie said. When I watch the students work together using the tools for problem solving issues in the music, it is satisfying.”
Nationally recognized as a program of the National Association for Music Education, the Tri-M honor society is additionally offered in the music department for students to join. This program recognizes and fosters leadership service and musical achievement and students are initiated through a ceremony in the fall concert. The society serves in various projects throughout the year such as Christmas caroling in the holiday season.
“My favorite aspect of teaching music is when the choir or individual student understands what they are singing,” Christie said. “It moves me to tears.”
