On April 25th, OSHS Chamber Choir students embarked on their annual trip to perform in New York City. Students must audition to be in this select ensemble, and they meet every Monday and Wednesday morning at 7:15. Chamber singers are an audition-only group of singers, who each year, go to NYC to perform, see a musical, and have fun around the city. This year, the chamber singers went to see The Outsiders. The musical adaptation of The Outsiders tells the story of Ponyboy Curtis, a 14-year-old orphan, and his Greaser friends in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1967, as they battle their rival gang, the Socs. The musical explores themes of self-discovery, belonging, and the complexities of growing up in a world that often rejects them, which many people can relate to. This trip is not only about visiting New York City, it is also to perform. The choir has been rehearsing for months in preparation to perform with the Yorktown High School Choirs at the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown.
Dr. Milton, the choral director and teacher of the chamber singers, believes that, “Having a sense of community is important in any kind of group, especially choral and vocal. This is because the more a group works together, the more they trust each other and work together more efficiently. Trips like this allow students to become more cohesive, learn, and trust each other, as well as seeing the teamwork of other choir groups, places, and directors.”
Students largely enjoyed the trip, Junior Lily Dower commenting, “I loved seeing The Outsiders, it was so amazing and made me realize how much I love musicals. We learned how to cooperate with other schools and blend our different styles of voices.” 