The students of North Andover High School recently reached the date they had marked on their calendars for months now: The Winter Concert. This year's concert was called “Rebirth.” The concert consisted of all three choirs: the Concert Choir, Treble Choir, and the Men’s Choir. Songs performed were beautifully written pieces, quite literally music to your ears. For more information, let’s hear from Georgette Makuta, a senior of the Treble and Concert Choir and her point of view on this performance.
Georgette is a talented cross country athlete, an intelligent student, and a member of the Soprano section of the Treble Choir. She has always had a love for singing. What inspired her, though, was a middle school experience when she attended a small group concert. She saw how much good the people got out of singing and decided that is what she wanted to do. Georgette has been in the choir since her freshman year, not including her junior year when she took time away from singing. During her freshman year, she performed often in two winter concerts and competition concerts with other local choirs. In 2018, all three choirs won gold medals in their competition. In addition to the traditional concerts for the year, a special conductor from Argentina visited NAHS and taught the singers Argentinian songs. A special concert was performed by the choir with these Argentinian pieces. The NAHS choir then finished the year with a spring concert. The 2019 and 2020 years for the choir went as planned with their winter concerts; however, just a week before competition, COVID-19 took over. The choir never got the chance that year to acquire further medals.
Now, let’s fast forward to this year. The NAHS choir, including Georgette, prepared for their big Winter concert performance. Each section of the choir held “sectionals,” practices for a specific section of the choir. Sections of the choir include soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. Since Georgette is in the soprano section (high voice section), she and the rest of her section members record their songs and listen to find ways to improve their voices. They’re always finding things to improve for their upcoming performances. During my interview with Georgette, she surprised me when she said that just two weeks ago the choir's progress was in a different place, and that members have improved quite a bit just for this performance. Georgette commented, “We just needed to buckle up and put some extra effort and practice in so we can have a good performance.”
Georgette is not the only member of her family in choir. Her younger sister, Benitez Makuta, is also a member of the Concert Choir. She is a freshman at NAHS and loves to sing just like her older sister. Georgette said that it is nice having Benitez in it with her; they share inside jokes and practice together at home, even though Benitez is actually in a different section than Georgette.
Georgette had mixed emotions about this winter concert, but most of it was definitely positive. She explained to me how it can be nerve-racking in a Treble Choir because there are only 20 people singing, as opposed to a concert choir where there are about 150 people singing. She told me, “It is easier to hide your voice a little bit in Concert Choir with the amount of people, but in a Treble Choir it is harder because your voice is more exposed and you can't rely on others but you just need to hold your ground, work hard, and know your stuff.” Georgette is also a little saddened by how this is her last Winter Concert at North Andover High. On the flip side, Georgette is also excited for this concert since she has not performed inside since her freshman year. After the winter performance, there will be a competition concert as well as a spring one. If you didn’t get a chance to attend the Winter Concert, see Georgette and the rest of the NAHS choir rock the stage with their amazing performances later this year!