Barnard Choir embodies school buzzword of “perseverance”
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Music Director Joel Lehman and the Barnard Elem Choir
by Cesse Ip
The choir is one of Barnard Elementary school’s brightest gems. Under the direction of music director Joel Lehman, the choir at Barnard Elementary School has given the students an outlet to sing in front of their school community, street festivals, and even in front of Vice President Kamala Harris at her house last year.
Barnard Elementary School is a DCPS school serving the Petworth and Brightwood Park neighborhoods with over 600 students from PK3-5. The choir consists of students from the 2nd – 5th grade, but all students at the school participate in music class.
Students perform during Choir practice.
I was able to visit Barnard to see the choir practice for their upcoming performances at their school assemblies and the Kennedy Center and was brought to tears. About 40 students performed “I’ll Be There to Comfort You” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
The choir students make sacrifices to participate in choir, like giving up their recess or shortening their lunch break. However, many of the kids said that they like giving up those privileges because they love singing in choir class. The kids told me that one of their favorite things was singing, and that when they work hard, they get to perform at cool places like the Kennedy Center.
This spring the choral festival for DCPS will be held at the Kennedy Center and the children are eagerly practicing for their performance. While the children exhibited no signs of nervousness in front of me, some of them told me that they were nervous when they saw a lot of people in the audience. When music director Joel Lehman heard that, he reminded the students that is why they continue to practice and persevere. Another student told me that even if he initially is nervous, once he starts singing, the nerves disappear.
Music Director Joel Lehman plays the piano as the Choir practices.
You can witness the Barnard choir’s talents at the school’s Black History Month assembly, open to the public at 6pm on March 24th. Tickets are $20 and seating will begin at 5:30pm.
