Every passing year at KO brings about change, big or small, whether it be changes to school staff, changes to teaching styles, or even something huge (like a whole new building undergoing construction). One notable change, at least for the performing arts department, is being applied to the choral and a cappella ensembles; for the fall semester next year, a cappella ensembles, Crimson 7 (C7) and Oxfordians, will both be transforming into distinct class electives, with Outlook losing a weekly rehearsal, and Voce experiencing changes to vocal structure (treble-only to SATB) as well as other schedule changes.
This is a big transition because these groups would normally meet after and during school. A sizable reaction of both receptive and opposing opinions has emerged among singers at KO, including me. With various factors like class schedules and credits, as well as the directions these ensembles intend to go towards, there is a nuanced divide in opinion.
Upon hearing the news, various singers expressed their agreement and concerns with the changes. Junior Gordon Beck, a member of both C7 and Outlook, for instance, expressed his concerns for C7’s identity when turned into a class. “There is a whole group [of friends], you hang out, you go get food, you chill for a few hours, get some work done, and then you go to a cappella,” he said. “It’s great, and you feel important because…it just feels like something that you volunteered to do and that you have fun doing.” Gordon also shared his frustration with how it may impact course schedules and availability for him as a rising senior, especially in how his time to meet with Outlook every week will now have to be shorter.
This schedule strife is a sentiment shared by junior Oxfordian Marlee Diane, who noted feelings of frustration and confusion among her peers and herself about the schedule changes. This is because, similar to Gordon, she enjoys bonding with others in a cappella after school hours. When asked to choose between meeting after school on Tuesdays or meeting during the new class times, Marlee said she definitely prefers staying after on Tuesdays. “I just think Tuesdays are easier for everybody,” she commented. “We already have [C7, Forensic Union, and] a lot of other people still [staying after school], so it kind of just makes sense.”
Meanwhile, others are in support or just impartial to the changes. Junior Jason Chen, another C7/Outlook member and rising senior, had no issues whatsoever with the prospect of a C7 elective, expressing that the extra class time on select days will help out “100%.” Sophomore Annie O’Connor, an Oxfordian, felt that the transition would be weird at first, but did not foresee any egregious prospects. Although feeling neutral on the subject, she admittedly did find the extra class credit a plus.
On the other side of the story, extra details provide helpful insight behind the scenes. History Department Chair and C7/Outlook Director David Baker spoke on the decision-making and feedback processes surrounding the ensembles. The biggest factors in making a cappella an elective came from reflection on the annual Wyvern Invitational A-Cappella Festival (WIAF), which took place in January and highlighted how KO was at a slight disadvantage in comparison to other a cappella groups who rehearsed for more time per week.
The next steps from there were a matter of how to get the most out of rehearsing in a way that meshed well with Concert Choir, which is already a class. “[It was] really hard because there are just so many kids, and some of those kids want to be serious musicians and move on to our advanced ensembles, and some of them are just trying to fulfill a graduation requirement,” Mr. Baker said. “So it was like, ‘How do we make that a better experience for everybody?’” The result of rescheduling all the different ensembles in the fall allows, in theory, for all groups to rehearse in a way that fits within the day, is more cohesive for both newer and older singers, and offers more prep for WIAF. “Something you will figure out in life with any scheduling is that there are ups and downs,” Mr. Baker said. “There is no perfect schedule.” Regardless, this new system is something that he and the other performing arts staff feel is a viable solution.
While these are valid reasons for switching a cappella to an elective, some still disagree. Gordon, for instance, acknowledges that more time to refine and improve in C7 is important, but he made a counterpoint, stating that the group simply needs to shift its priorities away from things like choreography. Other matters arose in the planning process as well, like making the electives a pass/fail class instead of a graded course. Decisions like these show this new transition as more complex and nuanced than it would seem.
So, what do I think about all of this? As a fairly recent C7 member, taking this as a fall elective next year has very much led to some pondering, considering that I am also a member of the Jazz Combo. Being able to fit two performing arts courses into my schedule is certainly possible, albeit a tight fit, which will be interesting to navigate next year. My experience, along with that of other KO singers, is going to be different, unexpected, and maybe even a little confusing, but with effort and adaptability on everyone’s sides, I am optimistic it will pan out well.
