Carlton's comeback kids

Music can have some surprising ways of bringing people together. And now - after several years apart - the Carlton choir is back by popular demand. They're set to livestream their spring choir concert on Sunday.

Carlton's previous youth choir had to disband in the spring of 2013 after nearly five years of making choral music. Last year, high school students who had sung in that choir as elementary schoolers remembered how much they had enjoyed singing together. They got together and asked that the program be reestablished last spring.

Community Choir director Sheri Herman told the story. "Last year my son and the core group of boys that were in the choir as kids wanted the opportunity to pick this up again before they graduated," Herman said. "Carlton schools have no vocal music program, and they had really loved it during their elementary years," she added.

Herman ran the idea past Carlton Community Education director Daisy Rose, who was quick to provide funding through Community Ed's Bulldog Options program for secondary school extracurricular activities.

Rose credited much of the spark behind the choir to Herman: "Sheri has a passion for it and spreads it to the kids. I think if the kids have an adult that's willing to teach and spread that passion, they're going to jump on board with it."

The choir got back together in early 2020, had several rehearsals and sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a Carlton High School basketball game. But on March 14, 2020 - just one day before their scheduled spring concert - Covid precautions forced the cancellation of the event.

Student activities of all kinds were canceled around the nation as school districts scrambled to implement distance learning plans and Covid-safe protocols. In-person choir rehearsals were quickly identified as high-risk activities in those early days of the pandemic.

The choir's comeback story seemed to end just short of the goal, with no future prospects.

Then, in mid-February of this year, students were scheduled to go back to school in person for four days rather than just two days a week. Herman approached Carlton's superintendent John Engstrom at a basketball game and asked, "Do you think we could go ahead and start this up again so that our seniors can have the choir experience they've wanted?" Engstrom was enthusiastic about the idea.

Three weeks later, 14 kids showed up at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Carlton to practice. Twelve of them had returned from the previous year.

At a recent Saturday morning rehearsal at the church, Herman's passion was evident as she directed the choir with an energy and animation that made the practice fun for both singers and observers.

Four Carlton High School seniors stayed after the rehearsal to talk about their experiences as members of that elementary choir years ago and what it means to them now to be part of today's choir.

Jayna LeBrasseur has really liked getting together with her friends to be part of the choir. "It's just been a good thing to take our mind off of everything else going on. I like spending time with good people that can all enjoy something together."

Spencer Rousseau remembered the childhood choir as "a lot more formal," adding with a smile that, "I think this one's a lot more fun."

Kristian Herman found it satisfying that this year's choir sings favorite songs of his and the other choir members. Asked about which song is his favorite, he said, "I think it's probably 'Hooked on a Feeling,' or 'Country Roads,'" as the others nodded in agreement.

Kristina Wuorio summed up her own growth through the choir experience: "I was nervous to do this at first. But after I got into it, I started getting closer with the group, and it became something I enjoyed. I look forward to it every week now. So, don't be scared to try new things."

This year's choir concert will offer 14 pieces in a wide variety of musical styles, ranging from the Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" to Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," the classical hymn "Dona Nobis Pacem" to "Summer Nights" from the hit musical "Grease."

Director Sheri Herman was clearly pleased with what her singers - given a chance for a comeback - have accomplished in a short time.

"There's some solos," she said. "There's some acting. There are acapella songs. They're going to be singing along with guitar and piano. They will sing a three-part harmony, and they're going to do some crowd-pleasers."

The Carlton Middle/High School Choir concert will livestream at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 2. Watch it online at https://www.twitch.tv/carltonbulldogs.

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FYI

The Carlton Middle/High School Choir concert will livestream starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 2. Watch it online at https://www.twitch.tv/carltonbulldogs.