Westfield Student Chorus Entertains Local Senior Citizens & European Audiences

By Lorre Korecky

Wrapping up a year of song, the Westfield High School (WHS) Chorale – a group of elite student singers -- visited and sang for the residents at the Westfield Senior Housing Center.

They performed selections from their spring concert repertoire under the direction of John Brzozowski, WHS choral instructor who accompanied the students. This followed the students’ spring trip to Scotland and England, where members of the WHS Concert Choir, Bella Cora and Mixed Chorus spent nine days in the UK touring and singing. Along the tour, the choirs performed at Edinburgh Castle, St. Giles Cathedral and Bath Abbey, to name a few.

The choirs also visited various historic sites such as Stonehenge and the Roman Baths. The school’s choral concert which took place in May in the WHS auditorium featured all of the students in the choral department. The WHS Choraleers did a rousing version of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Also featured at the concert was the first ever WHS Men’s Chorus.

The students in Concert Choir performed traditional choral pieces, including Ralph Vaughn William’s arrangement of “Loch Lomond.” The WHS Mixed Chorus did a stunning version of Elijah Rock as well as a tribute to the late Ben E King with their version of “Stand by Me.”

On June 1, the students in the WHS Concert Choir were visited by the Santa Fe High School Choir. The students in both choirs had the unique opportunity to chat about what life is like in each other’s schools. “What a great way to connect through music and singing,” commented Brzozowski.