GENOA – For one local choir director, music has always been more than just a pastime; it’s a passion that shaped her life. Ms. Kaitlyn Andrews is sharing that passion with the next generation through the Genoa Beginning Choir, a newly formed ensemble for elementary students.
“I really love choir and have loved choir since I got my first experience in middle school,” Andrews shared. “When I was younger, it felt like the missing part of my day. Coming together and being able to sing with my friends was always the highlight. I want to bring that same sense of belonging and self-expression to students in Genoa.”
The choir’s Winter Concert performance featured When I Hear Music by Brian Katona, a piece that sparked a powerful discussion among the young singers. “We talked about what life would be like without music,” Andrews explained. “Music gives a lot of these students a sense of hope, belonging and life. It’s incredibly rewarding to help them work together to create something bigger than themselves.”
The Genoa Beginning Choir is more than just singing; it’s a place where students can build confidence and learn to take pride in their work.
“We do a lot of weird things with our voices during warmups,” Andrews said with a laugh. “We talk about warming up not just our voices but our minds and bodies too. I’m always up front doing the weirdest things and sounding the weirdest, I probably can imagine. When the students see me doing it, they don’t feel self-conscious because we’re all in it together.”
That sense of camaraderie has paid off. At the start, the students were hesitant to join in, but by the end of the rehearsal, students were asking if they could lead the warmups!
Reflecting on their first rehearsals, Andrews said it was the most rewarding experience, “ When I handed out the music, it was chaos – imagine 51 third, fourth and fifth graders in one room! I was nervous they’d be disappointed the music wasn’t pop songs, but they loved it.”
That love became clear during their first run-through of When I Hear Music. “When they sang the chorus, I cried,” Andrews admitted. “They sounded so beautiful. It was a moment where I realized we’d created something special together.”
With each rehearsal and performance, the Genoa Beginning Choir continues to grow in skill and confidence. “My goal is for students to feel that same joy and sense of belonging I found in choir as a young student,” said Andrews.
As the choir’s voices rise in harmony, they bring not only music to the community but also a reminder of the power of collaboration and shared passion.