![WASC looks for more than the basic California State standards. According to chairperson Mike Woo, “As new rules and new concerns come up through society, [WASC] look[s] is the school doing something about that. Like the biggest trend post-COVID is mental wellness. So is your school doing something to address the mental health of the students? Along with are they still doing the proper academics?”](https://theburlingameb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3401-1200x1200.png)
![“For me personally, I want [others] to see the music program as a strong union because we can really bring out the life of our school,” Vega said. “We need music, you know? Otherwise, things would be really silent and dead.”](https://theburlingameb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/unnamed-1200x801.jpeg)
BHS Choir Performs Together Despite Challenges
Burlingame High Choir bands together to virtually perform “Building Bridges”, despite Covid-19 implications.
May 15, 2020
The Burlingame High choir may not be allowed to rehearse together, but modern technology is allowing them to continue performing together. Videos of the choir students singing independently were stitched together and posted to Youtube on April 21.
The rehearsal process began by the students being expected to download the song and practice it by themselves. Once they were adequately prepared, the students individually taped themselves singing and uploaded it to Canvas. The videos were then pieced together to create a makeshift concert.
Choral leaders Mr. Zawilski and Mr. Reifschneider were even able to produce a four-part harmony and digital effects.
The Youtube choir performance was of “Building Bridges”, a song that dates back to 1983. This song holds a historic value, as it was sung by protestors marching in the Greenham Commons Women’s Peace Camps in England.
“Building bridges between our divisions. / I reach out to you. / Will you reach out to me?”. These lyrics were sung by protestors advocating for the ending of nuclear weapon usage in warfare. Although Burlingame High students are not protesting nuclear warfare, they were still able to find a strong connection to the lyrics.
“I feel these lyrics really tie into how we can build bridges between people that we haven’t really communicated with, especially because of quarantine,” sophomore Ryan Kiniris said.
Kiniris also added that music is helping him get through these difficult times. Although he is not able to rehearse with his fellow choral members in person, technology is allowing for continued communication.
Luckily, this touching online performance is not the last from the Burlingame choir. Before COVID-19, the choir was scheduled to perform the piece, “Omnia Sol”, on tour in March. The choir did not want their hard work to go to waste and will release a digital performance of Omnia Soul onto Youtube soon. Future uploads also include the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Alma Mater”.
Watch the performance of Building Bridges here: https://youtu.be/DIrm_7KghEo
