On January 28, at 6:00 pm on an otherwise typical Wednesday, the campus would have been silent if not for the songs spilling out of the chapel, of every genre and rhythm, blending into this year’s Singers Showcase. With songs taken from popular bands such as Stray Kids and Bon Jovi, Bishop’s middle and upper school students performed their favorite songs to an audience of excited families and friends.
The Singers Showcase, an annual event bringing together all of Bishop’s choral groups, is led by Director of Choral Music Dr. Christine Micu. As Dr. Micu explained, “Singers Showcase is a chance for the students in the choir program to showcase their own singing outside of choir.” Since typical ensemble songs sung by students tended to be more classical, the showcase offered the freedom of individual expression to students, as “a chance where people can sing pop, rock, musical theater, whatever is their jam.”
Any student in Bishop’s choral program could prepare a song for the showcase. Some chose to perform solo, while others found partners for a duet performance or as an instrumental accompaniment. Two weeks before the performance, Dr. Micu held auditions with everybody who had signed up, where they pitched and sang their song. She also offered assistance to anyone who felt stuck or unsure about how to proceed in preparing. Besides that, much of the performers’ practice was done independently at home.
One of the performers, Julian Bartlett (‘29), performed Elvis Presley’s iconic “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” On his song choice, he said, “I just wanted to do kind of a slower song, because that’s sort of the kind of thing that I like, and I just wanted to express myself in this way.” He added that, as a freshman, this year was his first time being part of the Singers Showcase, describing it as a “trial run.” After the performance, he reflected, “I actually think it went really well. It was a really fun experience.”
Brianna Towry (‘30) and Codi Lucas (‘30) shared similar sentiments. “We were both unsure if we wanted to do it or not, but now I feel like I would have regretted not deciding to do Singers Showcase,” Brianna admitted. They performed “A Million Dreams,” from The Greatest Showman, a musical that both of them enjoyed watching. In the weeks leading up to the show, they spent every afternoon in a practice room, experimenting with different parts and ranges, making sure that it would sound perfect.
Brady Le (‘29) did a solo rendition of “You Gotta Die Sometime,” from Falsettos, his favorite musical. Although there were several song options from Falsettos, he ultimately decided on this song because he wanted to challenge himself. “I practice every night in my bedroom,” said Brady. Laughing, Brady recounted times when “my dad walks in on me, and ask me what I’m doing, and I say: ‘I’m practicing!’”
Tyler Chang (‘26) sang a duet of “Cover Me 가려줘,” along with Christopher Tao (‘26). The song fit their vocal ranges, and was also recorded by Tyler’s favorite group, Stray Kids. Tyler and Chris have known each other for seven years and are close friends. Both being seniors who were new to Bishop’s Choir, they wanted to make a lasting memory before they graduated. “The song is about finding people who support you, and that really struck home with me,” Tyler revealed. Alongside this piece, he also performed “City of Stars,” a duet from La La Land, with Kailin Xuan (‘26).
Many audience members were impressed by the performances. Athena Georgiou (‘29), who stayed late to support her friends, exclaimed, “It was just surreal being in there and seeing some of my classmates, who I’ve known since sixth grade, absolutely killing it on stage!” She also loved the senior performances, highlighting the meticulous preparation and energy of Bex Balsdon (‘26) and Jackson Weisser’s (‘26) “Tango Maureen”. She said, “We’re gonna be missing the seniors a lot next year, but they really left their mark behind.” Madison Yau (‘28) agreed with Athena. “All the songs were really diverse and really entertaining,” she remarked, “There was not only singing, there was dancing, acting, musical theater.”
The Singers Showcase has been a staple event at Bishop’s, highlighting student independence and identity for over 11 years, even before Dr. Micu joined Bishop’s. “There’s more of an independent preparation in knowing how to practice and perform a song,” Dr. Micu said proudly, “Now that I’ve given you all these skills, how do you go prepare a song for a performance on your own?” She emphasized how the showcase brought out the unique voices of all of her students.
In the end, Tyler highlighted the fact that “there’s no theme or limitation — we’re all just choosing songs that we want to sing and we want other people to hear.” Through the showcase, whether it be through a fast-paced tango, or a sincere ballad, the Bishop’s Choir got to exhibit their individuality just as much as their musical talent.
