By: Deborah Sullivan, Music Teacher at Graham & Parks
I
teach chorus in Grades 5-8 at Graham and Parks. In February, I had a
memorable experience with the fifth graders. They had been invited to
sing a few patriotic songs at a Naturalization Ceremony at Faneuil Hall
in Boston. I knew right away that I wanted them to perform a great
arrangement I have of “This Land is Your Land.”
There are two
solos in the arrangement and at the first rehearsal with all the fifth
graders, I asked if anyone would be interested singing solo. A number of
hands shot up. “Come see me at recess today then.” I listened to those
who showed up and narrowed it down to about six. I have a small fifth
grade chorus (most students take instruments in fifth grade) and,
surprisingly, none of them had volunteered for solos. However I told
them that they would be helping me choose the soloists.
At our
next rehearsal I invited the six finalists to come in to sing for us.
Our first choice was Harry because he was able to easily find the
difficult starting note for the second solo. We went back and forth
about who should do the first solo and couldn’t agree. “Why doesn’t the
whole chorus sing it?” someone suggested. “Okay, let’s try that.” I
said, and they all began singing. My ear was suddenly drawn to the voice
of a new student who had recently joined one of the SEI classes and was
now in chorus. I knew very little about him since he had only been to
two rehearsals. When the group finished I said to him: “Do you want to
try the solo?” Without batting an eyelash, he said “OK” and stood in
front of the group.
He sang with complete confidence and his
voice was beautiful! The other students’ eyes grew wide and they all
began pointing at him and saying: “him, him!” And that’s how Tom, who
had so recently come to Cambridge from China, became the soloist at a
Naturalization Ceremony for new citizens of the United States! Everyone
was impressed with the whole group’s performance, but when the boys sang
their solos I could see that the entire crowd was thrilled. And so was
I!