The annual Camas High School (CHS) Select Vocal Ensemble (SVE) camp retreat took place Sept. 19-21 near Washougal River Road at Camp Wa-ri-ki. This retreat focuses on preparing SVE students for approaching choir events later this year.
Traditionally, the retreat and class were only permitted for CHS juniors and seniors. However, Ethan Chessin, CHS choir teacher, allowed students of all grade levels to participate this year. This increased the number of students immensely, creating a larger, more positive environment for new and returning students.
The first day of the retreat emphasized on joining students together to increase the success of a synced choir. Being in an isolated environment with no access to technology encourages students to create new relationships and connections within the choir community and ensures comfort while performing.
“The goal [of the camp] is primarily getting people really comfortable with each other and building friendships among students in SVE,” Chessin said. “But it’s also to get some significant progress done on our music.”
How the choir sounds is dependent on close relationships and the effort students put into becoming more advanced vocalists. When new students are tasked with learning a challenging piece of music, it gives them a chance to ask the more experienced students for assistance to improve as a singer and creates a situation for returning students to step up into a leadership role.
“Choir is all about interpersonal relationships,” Chessin said.
Chessin mentioned the fun activities students participated in throughout the duration of camp.
“We have meals together, we play getting-to-know-you games, we sing in the gym, we write poems together, perform for each other, have a campfire, and have a talent show,” Chessin said.
Classically, a major part of the camp is learning and practicing new pieces of music. A song that was specifically learned and sung only at camp was called “Bandeleros.” The song explores themes of brotherhood and connecting with peers. While in the process of learning this new piece, they continued to rehearse songs they had learned earlier in the year.
Orrin Brown, a senior choir student at CHS, described his favorite part of the retreat.
“My favorite part would probably be writing appreciations about people,” Brown said. “I think it’s really nice because it gives people a chance to be authentic with each other without it feeling awkward.”
Chessin expressed his infatuation with the camp due to the amount of time and room available to rehearse music.
“We have longer rehearsals than we [normally] have a chance to do,” Chessin said. “We have more space to use for rehearsals, and it’s nice for us to be able to move around while we’re singing.”
The choir community is anticipating a great deal of events this year to showcase their talents. The Los Angeles choir tour is taking place later this spring, along with “The Grotto” this winter, “Evening on Broadway”, and the fall concert at Garver Theatre on Oct. 13.
Grace Sorensen, a senior choir student at CHS, touched on the kinship she experienced while rooming with her fellow choir students.
“We bonded really well in the dorm rooms; this year, our room was full (unlike last year), and we got to meet new people and bond [with them], so it’s community building,” Sorensen said.
Chessin addressed the most crucial part of creating a successful choir containing trained and untrained students.
“The only way that these mixed-level groups work is if we do the work to get close enough to each other, that we care enough to help each other out, agree that we’re all in it together, and that we’re all invested in the final outcome of the project,” Chessin said.
