It’s 7am on a Thursday morning. The Jesuit halls are empty, and the classrooms are dark. The school is quiet. But from out of the PAC and across Hayes Plaza, the sound of laughter and singing can be heard. There in the choir room, AVE choir is warming up, preparing their voices for their weekly rehearsal.
According to choir director Ms. Kristen Caldwell, Advanced Vocal Ensemble (AVE) began as a class for advanced freshman singers. Over the years, it opened its doors to singers of all ages and skill levels. Currently, it has over a dozen members, including singers from all four grades and a wide variety of singing backgrounds.
When it comes to AVE choir, the door is open to everyone, especially those who enjoy singing but can’t fit it into their class schedules.
“I joined AVE because it’s a great chance to get involved and meet people who share a joy in singing outside of choir classes,” sophomore Kiah Dunne said.
Sophomore Eva Gonzales also highlighted the beauty of the AVE’s inclusive policy. She described the choir as “a really cool community where we can celebrate music together in a way that might feel a little more personal and accessible to those that don’t have time for a full choir class in their schedules.”
Senior Alia Huang joined AVE this year.
“Due to scheduling conflicts, I was unable to participate in other groups such as Chamber and Cantoria,” she said. “I had been asked to join AVE in the past, but was more hesitant due to the early morning meeting times and my already busy schedule. This year I have decided to explore other passions outside of robotics, and love the inviting atmosphere and more challenging student-led group AVE provides me with.”
In addition to giving opportunities to prospective vocalists, AVE provides a way for those with lifelong passions for singing to become more involved in the Jesuit choir community.
Freshman Maitri Ghosh said, “[I joined AVE] to be part of a smaller vocal ensemble because singing is one of the things that I love the most, and joining AVE would mean I could do that with other talented singers.”
Gonzales described AVE as “a lot more casual than choir.”
“We still have the same discipline,” she said, “but in the smaller setting we’re able to connect with each other more.”
AVE also provides an opportunity for singers to gain additional vocal practice and hone their skills.
Senior Augustine Vasquez, now the leader of AVE, originally joined the group in the fall of his freshman year because he “wanted to find a way to get better and sharpen [his] skills.”
In AVE, Vasquez found just that.
“It’s a smaller group,” he said. “Ms. Caldwell can work with each person to improve their skills.”
Over the course of several Thursday mornings, members of AVE work tirelessly to perfect a song that gets showcased each choir concert.
These songs were picked by choir director Ms. Caldwell in years prior, but are now decided upon by Vasquez and his co-leaders Zach Contreras and Jordan L’Esperance. This is just one example of AVE’s recent shift to becoming a student-led club.
“I realized that unless the internal motivation wanted to make this happen, there wasn’t much that I could do,” said Caldwell. “It needed to be from the companionship of [the choir members] as student leaders.”
Caldwell explained that this year, AVE is student led in almost all ways.
“Except for running the actual 45 minute rehearsal, I have handed over almost all leadership to the students, and so the reminder emails, the selecting of music, the taking attendance; it’s all student-led.”
AVE has performed a wide variety of songs over the past few years, ranging from 16th century Latin polyphony to modern classics like an arrangement of The Turtles’ “So Happy Together.”
Gonzales explained that she joined AVE this year because she “loved watching them perform last year at the choir concerts”. Regardless of the chosen piece for any given concert, she described AVE as always having “such a fun, relaxed energy.”
“Not hating on Chamber music,” said Vasquez. “I do enjoy our more formal songs, but in AVE we get to do more upbeat and jazz music, which is also fun.”
Each of the singers may have had a different reason for joining AVE choir, but it is often the fun that keeps them coming back each week.
Freshman Andrew Contreras described AVE’s community as “fun and supportive for everyone involved”. He thoroughly enjoys singing with the choir because it is “so easy to be there.”
His sentiment is shared by Dunne. “The vibes are always so positive even at seven in the morning,” she said.
Vasquez wholeheartedly agreed.
“It’s been my personal experience that the community is very welcoming and supportive of each member, and is one of my favorite aspects about AVE,” he said.
The members of AVE are dedicated to creating their art.
They demonstrate their dedication every Thursday through “the simple fact that they show up on their own accord because they feel compelled by both the love of music and the companionship of each other’s accountability and friendship to wake up 45 minutes earlier once a week and come and sing together,” said Ms. Caldwell
Caldwell cited her reason for continuing AVE each year as “leading the singing for the joy of it with students who want to be there.”
She pointed out the banner that hangs in the choir room, proudly presenting the choir motto: “Pursuing musical excellence in the company of friends.”
That motto is at the heart of AVE choir, fostering companionship through what Ms. Caldwell, Gonzales, and Ghosh each describe as a welcoming community.
“On a personal level, music, especially singing with my friends, have always been uplifting to my spirit,” said Huang. “I always leave the room feeling rejuvenated and somewhat sad that I have to wait another week to sing with the group again. I have also finally felt like I have found a group that I can connect with, and have met many friends after joining the choir.”
“AVE builds alongside the friendship filled choir community. Often we have a quick social check in after our warmups to see what is happening in everybody’s lives. Other than that, the sheer grit of getting to school by seven is certainly community building. AVE of course creates meaningful connection,” said Zach Contreras.
These connections built among the choir members are what keep them coming each Thursday morning and encourage them to give back to their community.
“It’s nice to be able to give back to a community that has given so many wonderful experiences to me,” said Vasquez. “I want to see this community continue not just for me but for other people who might need a place to sharpen their skills like I did.”
Caldwell expressed her confidence in AVE’s future.
“I’m excited to see the legacy of its success, now that it is a student-run club,” said Caldwell.
Caldwell continued, saying, “I think it’s really special making art together. There’s even a performance element at the end of it, so there is some accountability built in that way, but we’re doing this thing that creates beauty together, and that makes the world a better place. I just love that about Ave.”
The singers are excited for the future of AVE. Choir members look forward to their upcoming performances and competitions, collaborations with Jazz Band, and tackling even more complex pieces. Wherever their future performances take them, the singers of AVE choir will be in the company of friends.
“Music, especially singing with my friends, has always been uplifting to my spirit. I always leave the room feeling rejuvenated and somewhat sad that I have to wait another week to sing with the group again.”
