The Power of Choir Singing

“Have you ever sang in a choir?”

Initial Missed Opportunities

Sadly, no. I wish I had been a part of a choir. My counselor in seventh grade asked if I wanted to join, and I declined. Back then, I didn't think I would ever be able to sing. However, over time, I started taking vocal lessons, and now I consider it one of my biggest regrets. If I could go back in time, I would certainly join a choir.

And if you think I missed an amazing experience, you are mistaken. It was one of the most incredible parts of my school life.

A Memorable Choir Experience in Seventh Grade

Back in seventh grade, our school had a program called “Modal Class” designed to enhance our public speaking skills and reduce stage fear. Activities included debate, silent skits, quizzes, and most importantly, choir. My class teacher, who also taught English, introduced a new concept: our class choir, where we recited a poem titled “The Tree” by Keki N. Daruwalla.

The initial lines of the poem still resonate with me today:

“Next to the track beside our house / Dad planted a gulmohar / We tended it we watered it / It wanted more and more.”

The poems, though simple, carried profound meanings. Our teacher guided us through the entire process—understanding the context, memorizing the poem, and rehearsing in our 'zero-period' every day. We started rehearsing well in advance, and the efforts paid off during our Modal Class. Our performance was nothing short of perfect, and our teacher was incredibly proud of us. It was a wonderful experience that I would cherish forever.

My Journey in Choir

Although I missed out on joining a choir as a student, I got my start singing in a church youth choir at the age of 6 and 1/2.

On a night my parents needed to go out, and my older brother had church youth choir rehearsal, they both brought me along. The choir director, Mrs. Jackson, was impressed by my voice and asked me to sing with the other kids. When my parents arrived, Mrs. Jackson suggested that I join the choir, which I did.

A bit later, a few months after my 7th birthday, I was invited to be one of the founding members of the All Philadelphia PA Boys Choir. Under the direction of Dr. Carlton Jones Lake, I also became a private voice student at the Philadelphia Settlement House, an organization that provided low-cost music and art lessons to poor children. This led to my first professional job when I joined the Broadway cast of “The Sound Of Music” as “Kurt Von Trapp” in the summer of 1960, when I was just 8 years old.

Since then, I have been singing both professionally and non-professionally. Choir singing has always been a part of my life, and I am grateful for the experiences it has offered.

So, whether you have ever sang in a choir or not, consider joining one. The joy, discipline, and friendship you will find within a choir are unlike anything else. Happy reading!

Note: This article highlights the importance of choir singing and the positive impact it can have on personal growth and skill development. It serves as a reminder that every missed opportunity can sometimes lead to unexpected paths and experiences.