Members of the class of 2015 who participated in Select Choir will go off to college on a high note. Graduating seniors from Mr. Richter’s honors Select Choir class may remember starting off as freshmen experiencing spontaneous voice cracks during Chorale rehearsals. Now they are mature individuals who know how to count backward from eight, which is a vocal warm-up, and blend their voices together to make a very melodic sound.

When asked about their favorite memory of the music department at Scituate High School, seniors said performing Mozart’s Requiem during sophomore year was an all-around favorite. Joseph Downing, Roger Dawley and Ani Koziel all agreed that performing the Requiem was a great experience. Koziel spoke for the group when she said although the piece was hard work, “it was so rewarding to learn so much and to be able to perform such beautiful music.” Singing with the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is something these seniors will never forget.

Joe Downing, a very talented musician who is heading to the University of North Texas College of Music, expressed his appreciation for Mr. Richter and the music department as a whole. Downing said Mr. Richter was a big help with his college selection. “He inspired me to continue with music,” Downing said. Downing has decided to major in jazz studies for guitar and plans on succeeding with his career choice. Roger Dawley, who will be attending Fordham University, loves the fact that he can go to chorus as his getaway. After having a stressful day at school, he said it was nice to go to a class and “actually have a break during the day and do something you enjoy.” Ani Koziel, who is heading to George Washington University in Washington, D.C. to major in international relations or political science, is thankful for Mr. Richter and how he pushed her to do well in her academic classes. Ani said he taught her “the amazing connections music can bring people.”

Although Mr. Richter said he would love to keep all of the talented seniors in select choir, we as a high school have to support them and encourage them to reach their full potential. These students are amazing singers, and they are amazing people who will make it far in life by doing what they do best: Being themselves and loving who they are. The Select Choir seniors will be greatly missed by the music department and Scituate High School. The seniors have set sail.