“I know of so many kids who spent hours a day working on hitting notes just right, or saying words as crisp as can be,” said Dashiell Flaig (‘27), describing the intense preparation behind this year’s spring choir concert.
Held on April 17th, the Bishop’s Spring Choral Concert “Come Travel With Me” featured songs in eleven languages — including Filipino, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Arabic, Chinese, and more — celebrating global traditions and the diverse voices of the choirs.
To prepare, many students learned these foreign songs phonetically, using in-class recordings of pronunciations and help from friends and family, a process that was both challenging and collaborative.
“We had students who were fluent in some of the languages we sang able to be the teachers,” explained Choir Director Dr. Micu. “That was one of the most special parts — seeing students step up as leaders.”
“Learning eleven different languages was one of the hardest parts,” said Bishop’s Singer Addison Simmons (‘27). “But it was also one of the most fun because we were learning from each other.”
The concert opened with Scott Farthing’s “Come Travel With Me,” an energetic performance the lyrics of which were inspired by Walt Whitman, were sung by all choirs and welcomed the audience with warmth and adventurous spirit.
Immediately following was a traditional Filipino folk song, “Paruparong Bukid (Butterfly from the field),” an ethereal piece about a woman getting ready for her wedding day. The performance by the Bishop’s Singers sparkled with high notes and was enriched by Riley Brunson’s (‘25) outstanding job as descant (an additional high pitched melody above the main melody). Personal touches from Kayla Pfefferman’s (‘26) grandmother helped bring the story to life through her memories and traditional knowledge about the song. “She was super excited and helped me with everything from the words to the melody,” Kayla shared, “she explained how the words are pronounced and what they mean so that I could share with the class.”
Then came “Vamos A Bailar (let’s dance),” a Spanish song by Dan Davison that radiated youthful energy. With mathematics faculty chair Mr.Noble Kime at the piano, both the Bishop’s Singers and Chorus sang this piece. The song’s usage of finger snaps and foot stomps alongside Owen Tu (‘25) and Genevieve Wiezynski’s (‘28) performance as the choir’s percussion captured a sense of playful competition between the singers and the dynamic of a dance-off between boys and girls.
“Marie Madeleine,” a French-Canadian folk song, brought out the drama of a mischievous cow escape, with clapping, rhythmic tapping, and layered harmonies that echoed oral traditions. The middle school singers then led a French nursery rhyme arranged by Emily Croker titled “J’ai vu le loup (I saw the wolf),” which was about a fox and hare dancing in the moonlight. It carried a dramatic and spirited vibe with echoing claps and a pulsing piano.
“Ton Thé” a French song arranged by Susan Brumfield and based on a traditional French tongue twister – Tonton, ton thé t’a-t-il ôté ta toux (uncle did your tea get rid of your cough) – was then performed by the Period Two Singers. With Mr. Kime once again at the piano, the playful and rhythmically challenging melody engaged the audience with its blend of crisp French diction and energetic vocal lines, creating a lively atmosphere.
The mood continued with a set of French songs voiced by the Bishop’s Singers – “Je ne l’ose dire” and “Il est bel et bon” by Pierre Certon and Pierre Passareau respectively – that mimicked village gossip. “Il est bel et bon” used meaningless syllables to imitate the sound of chickens clucking, while “Je ne l’ose dire” was full of exaggerated dynamics and stage whispering. Singers leaned into their characters with sly glances and conspiratorial expressions
The program shifted into deeper emotional territory with “Bella Ciao,” a stirring Italian resistance song that was arranged by Jerry Estes and performed by the middle school singers with surprising soulfulness. “The middle school singers are the foundation of the choir program,” Dr. Micu emphasized. “It’s rewarding to watch them grow into fuller-voiced high school singers.”
The following piece – whose lyrics were written by Christian Schubart and which was arranged by D. Jason Bishop – was Schubert’s “Die Forelle.” It was a poetic German piece about a trout slipping away from a fisherman, and the Tenors & Baritones’ rendition blended lively rhythms with a smooth, flowing delivery.
“Hands Are Knockin’,” was a bilingual Arabic-English piece that commemorated the 20th anniversary of the American School in Oman. Composed by Kyle Pederson,, with hopeful lyrics and rhythmic drumming, the piece was both grounded and uplifting. It was marked by symbolic knocking movements and a unifying message of welcome, inclusion and shared humanity.
The concert’s tone then softened with “Ahavat Olam,” about loving one another and the world around us, Ahavat Olam was a traditional Jewish prayer piece whose lyrics were translated to English by Gabriel Mann and Piper Rutman. The Bishop’s Chorus and Singers gently wove themes of togetherness and peace throughout the song. Kayla Pfefferman (‘26) was the soloist during the piece. That softness flowed into “Molihua,” a Chinese folk song tracing back to the Ming Dynasty and remembered by Lisa Pan (‘26) as a lullaby from her grandmother. Arranged by Reed Criddle and performed by the Bishop’s Singers, the song was harmonic, high-pitched, and delicate, like silk floating through the air.
With the Sopranos & Altos singing and Laine Beamer (‘25) as the soloist, a high-energy traditional Pakpaknese Indonesian song – Cikala le Pong Pong – followed. The song was about elders telling girls to be less aggressive than boys. Arranged by Ken Steven the song was abundant with stomps, snaps, and dramatic clapping that sent it surging with a rhythm and excitement that was shared by the singers. “Singing in a choir is about sharing your voice with others,” said Dr. Micu. “There’s a kind of magic when everyone is focused and singing in harmony – it’s like nothing else.”
The concert neared its closing with “Shed a Little Light” a tribute to Martin Luther King Junior that called for unity and compassion. Composed and written by James Taylor, the song was wistful and reflective. Yet, it held bursts of rhythmic momentum and optimism that were enhanced by Madison Gasaway (‘28) on the drums, and elevated to another level by Jackson Weisser’s (‘26) spotlight as the soloist.
The final number, “Homeward Bound” by Martha Keen and arranged by Jay Althouse, was sung by all choirs. With its uplifting melody and heartfelt lyrics, the piece resonated deeply with both performers and the audience, creating a powerful sense of unity and longing. “Some seniors have been singing with us since they were in 6th grade, others for just a year,” Dr. Micu said. “Yet they all feel a sense of belonging to this group – and that is a special moment for me.”
