The Holly Springs High School (HSHS) Chorus program is an impressive one. The program has 190 students within the entire program. Of that number, 45 students are in the Colla Voce program, which is reserved for juniors and seniors only, and requires an audition to be accepted into the program. About half the students that try out for the program are accepted.
Under the direction of Choral Director Jenny Patchett, HSHS Colla Voce students have an impressive resume, which has blazed a path for them to secure an invitation to perform in London, England for a New Year’s Eve celebration.
Colla Voce started at HSHS eight years ago. In that time, they have won every national competition that they have competed in. Their impressive run of wins helped to secure an invitation in 2015 to sing at Carnegie Hall.
The group this year has been selected as one of only four schools in the country to be invited to perform at the London International Choral Festival. It’s part of the London New Year’s Day Parade. The four selected groups will be the only choral groups performing. The HS group is the only one selected from North Carolina. The other groups are from Florida, Tennessee and Oklahoma.
The invitation was received in early April, and after school board approval, they accepted the invitation on May 1. The Senior Patron and Executive Member of the London Mayor’s Association — Steven Summers — arrived in Holly Springs with the Senior Directors of the London International Choral Festival, and delivered the invitation in a ceremony to the students.
At print time, 38 students have been able to commit to attend, leaving 7 students unable to attend, unless they are able to raise more funds. Fundraising efforts were started immediately to offset the cost of the trip, as it falls outside the timeline where it is eligible for grants. None of the funding for the trip is coming from the school or Wake County. Students are doing individual fundraising and the entire group is also holding general fundraisers.
The performance in London will be the Grande Finale Gala Concert at Suffolk Cathedral on January 2. The students will be working with Peter Holder. Mr. Holder is the main organist at Westminster Abbey, and is the Associate Director of Choirs there. He plays the organ at the daily service as well as for the Royal Family. Mr. Holder has already been to Holly Springs twice to work with the students. He listened to the kids to decide on the music in the spring, and returned again in September, once the students had the chance to learn the music that he had selected. Mr. Holder will be the conductor working with the students when they’re traveling, as well as the conductor for the concerts.
The trip for the students will be from December 28 to January 4, leaving time to get prepared, but also some time to take in the sights. The majority of the students have never left the country. The group will also perform an individual concert at Holy Trinity Church in London.
We met with some of the students to get their take on the program, and what the trip means to them.
Wesley Smith
Junior
“I’ve been to London before, but when I went
with my family, it was all about seeing the histo-rical sights. My family is big into history. I’m not. I have more of a modern mindset. Our group is like a family, somewhat more for the Seniors than the Juniors, but I think that this trip is going to mold us all together. The chorus program in Holly Springs is an easy and helpful way to create a small community. For students that might have a hard time fitting in or making friends, it’s an easy and safe space to branch out, and get out of your comfort zone. 80% of my closest friends today came from this program, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.”
EmmaLee Oliver
Senior
“I’ve never left the country so I’m really exited about the trip. To get to spend a week with what choir is, a family, I’m really looking forward to it.
We went to [Wash-ington] DC last year, and I’ve been to DC many times, but with friends it’s a whole different experience. I know that we’ll be in great hands. I want to go into music education, and to go to a place where they view music so differently than we do here, I’m really looking forward to that.
I hadn’t even planned on joining chorus, but my friend Rylie Petersen kept pushing me to join. Coming into high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do. This is what makes me happy. Choir is the place that made me realize that I can make a difference. I want to be able to help other students feel the way that I feel about choir. Once I realized that I can do this as a career, it was an exciting moment for me. Had my friend not pushed me to join, I never would have found this passion that I have, and for that I’m forever grateful. I’m planning to attend Utah State for Music Education. This is such a great opportunity, and I’m looking forward to showing other people what we have to share.”
Ellie Ezzelo
Junior
“I’ve never been outside of the country so I’m a little nervous about going to a new environment that I have no knowledge of. This trip is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. I think it’s an incredible opportunity to go to another country with some of my best friends and do something that we love. I’ve known some of the other members since middle school, but we were never close until we were in choir together. Now, some of my best friends have come from this choir class. We share the same love of music, and it’s a very friendly community. We’re all just able to connect. I love that about this program. It’s been my favorite thing about high school since my freshman year. Being in high school it’s very hard to find a safe place to be, to be yourself, but coming into here I feel comfortable, to be myself. I’ve realized that once I get out of school, I want to choose something music-related. I was thinking about being in music before joining the chorus program, but now I know for sure it’s what I want to do. I never want to stop doing this.”
Tristan Ream
Senior
“I’ve never been to Europe, and I’m really looking forward to it. I know that chorus is really big over there. It’s the way sports is in America in schools. I can’t wait to experience that. I haven’t done a lot of research yet, but I’m waiting to go there to be excited about everything I see. I want to see Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. There’s a lot of history there, and I’m looking forward to being part of that history.
My sister forced me to join chorus here. I originally didn’t want to, and she made me do it. She sent four years in the program, just like I have. This program has meant so much to me. People always say, “Tristan never shuts up about choir.” It’s true. I haven’t since freshman year when I fell in love with it. I’ve explored more extracurriculars, like going to Governors School and Honors Chorus, and now I’m declaring it as my major for college. I plan to pursue Music Education, just like Ms. Patchett.
This is such an honor to be selected to go on this trip. We were one of only four schools selected to perform. It took many [HSHS] Colla Voce groups to get to this place, and it just so happens, that we’re the ones that have been selected to go. So much work has been put into this. Not just the 2019/2020 Colla Voce, but every Colla Voce leading up to this point.”
The cost of the trip is $3,500 per student. To have the trip fully funded would cost $157,500. The fee covers the entire trip, with the exception of lunch for the students. The number of students registered has to be confirmed by November 1, but fundraising efforts will continue past that date. The program has been reaching out to the residents and business community of Holly Springs in an effort to be able to include all 45 students for the trip. The hope is that they are able to raise $100,000 by November 1 to make the trip affordable to every student. Donations to the general fund are divided equally between the students that will attend. At press time, they have raised $18,000 for general fund.
