I love choir. I love music and singing, and I am proud to be a music geek. I could go on and on and on about how much I love being in choir at McClintock, but I am going to save all the mushy and sappy stuff for the end of the year. But I do want to talk about just what is so special about being in choir.

Music is all about moments, and when you are part of a great ensemble, you have the amazing opportunity to experience a lot of these moments. They are not something that can really be put into words—one can only understand them by experiencing them. And they only happen when everyone is feeling the music; when it is obvious that the whole choir is passionate about the piece they’re performing.

Something that is so special about being in a choir is the fact that it is both a very personal and communal experience. That is, when you sing in a choir, you feel free and contented and almost alone with the music, and at the same time you are a part of something bigger than yourself. I am lucky enough to be a part of a program that puts a huge emphasis on community and family.

Last year, in A Cappella, we did an African piece called “Wangol.” It is the most joyful and hopeful song I have ever sung. I remember experiencing this feeling of pure elation as I soaked in the beautiful music that was being made all around me. I was smiling from ear to ear and I could feel the smiles of those around me.

And this is what so astounds me about music—the enormous effect it can have on people. Music holds so much power; sometimes the power to bring back memories and create nostalgia, sometimes the power to make you wish or feel like you are somewhere else, and often the power just to make you feel calm. I think just about everyone likes some kind of music—for just about everyone, there is some type of sound or even just one particular song that makes them feel this way. I am so lucky to be able to experience amazing music every single day.