Over the past several weeks, the Upper School select choir, Vox Unum, was given the chance to perform in various locations around the Princeton area. For the first time since 2023, the vocalists were able to bring their talents to people outside of the the Stuart community.
The first stop was Cherry Valley Country Club, where Vox Unum was asked to perform for the club’s annual Christmas breakfast.
The anticipation for the event was so high that the choir ended up arriving a day early. While practicing, they discovered that no one was present to attend the event, resulting in extra rehearsal for the choir’s real performance on the following day. As many were disappointed in the fact that they weren’t able to sing for the country club that day, they organized a group trip to Princeton Shopping Center and sang aloud in front of Starbucks for a small audience, including some familiar faces (like Ms. Larson). Although the first attempt didn’t go as planned, the official selection was wonderful. Many recount the experience as great, especially as a lot of the members were recovering from coughs and colds. Overall, it was a success!
Following the country club visit, Vox Unum was given the chance to sing at McCarter theatre. The choir sang there previously and were excited to perform once again with new members. McCarter’s set was similar to the one performed at Cherry Valley Country Club, featuring “Ave Maria/What Child Is This,” “Mary, Did You Know?” “White Winter Hymnal,” “Jessey’s Carol,” and “Silent Night/Night of Silence,” all on rotation. They were allowed to practice on the lower floor of the theatre, and it happened to have become a favorite shared experience of the choir, as this is where Ave Maria was finally deemed “performance ready”. Once taking to the lobby, the sound of the harmonies rang through the waiting area, and enticed many of the visitors waiting to see A Christmas Carol. The choir was also surprised by a visit from Ms. Baldwin, along with a few Stuart parents. The 2024 McCarter visit is surely one to remember among the Vox Unum Choir.
The winter season concluded with a visit to the Princeton Public Library for a Teen A Capella Night. At this event, the singers corroborated with small choirs from schools such as Princeton Day School, and Princeton High School, and shared performances.The set from Vox Unum included “Mary Did You Know” and “God Rest Ye Mary Gentleman.” Although it is renowned as a performance that could have been improved upon, it was a great time. One performer shared how she liked sharing snacks with other students, while another spoke about loving the selections and taking inspiration from the other choirs. Regardless of some of the lows, the event was thoroughly enjoyed by all of the performers, and served as a great end to the winter song set.
Vox Unum’s winter season was definitely an eventful one. Even though it was filled with many different obstacles and achievements, it was a great learning experience for the chorus and has led them on a course to work on more endeavors in the upcoming months. As spring slowly approaches, we are waiting to see just what Vox Unum does next.
