Choir Fun Fridays: building a community from home

By Jadyn Miyahira, Staff Writer

Since the halt of in-person school events, the Samo choir program has found unique ways to transcend virtual barriers through the organization of Zoom-friendly activities for students to attend.  

Since last semester, Choir Fun Fridays were established to allow choir students to build an online community. Events such as game nights, karaoke and even “Huls’ Kitchen” have kept students busy on Friday nights. 

Seeing that in-person connections would not be easily accessible to choir students during distance learning, choir teacher Jeffe Huls and the choir co-presidents, Emily Barrett (’21) and Sadie Inatsugu (’21), jumped into action. Now, the co-presidents host the Choir Fun Friday events on Zoom for an hour and a half each week, allowing students of all grade levels to socialize. 

“They’re a good way to have a little de-stressor with people in the choir, and to just play some games. I wish more people would come, because they really are lovely evenings, but I am always very happy to see the people who do come,” Inatsugu said. 

One concern that arose since the start of distance learning was the integration of the freshmen class into the works of Samo. Nevertheless, the choir program withstood these difficulties and demonstrates exactly how this can be done. Because the freshmen have been buddied with a junior or senior, the upperclassmen encourage them to attend Choir Fun Fridays, providing a welcoming atmosphere for the new students. Barrett has reported that she’s been introduced to unfamiliar faces and loves meeting new people at these events. 

“Normally, our two advanced ensembles are the closest with each other, but these Friday nights have given people a reason to see each other outside of a choir setting and upperclassmen can be friends with underclassmen. It isn’t seen as a division. We all love each other,” Barrett said. 

Another concern is the mental health of students during virtual learning. Choir Fun Fridays have given students a space to unwind from the pressures of everyday school. Many choir students who have attended these events expressed that disengaging from school, which takes up a lot of their time, has helped improve their mental health.

“Overall it’s a great place to destress and hang out with our choir family,” choir student Isabel Molina (’21) said. 

The hardships of the raging pandemic have undoubtedly taken a toll on Samo students. Although they have taken a hit, choir students have been provided a sanctuary to take a breath and even watch as Huls makes chocolate soufflé on Zoom.