The annual DePaul College Prep fall concert, now called Haunted, took a different approach this last year. Jonathan Braun, the Director of Vocal Ensembles, said that the concert was “really, really awesome. Going forward, the fall concert would be a themed concert and so this year we (him and Mr. Rocks, the Band Director) decided on the theme of spooky Halloween music.” says Jonathan Braun, the Director of Vocal Ensembles.
He continues, “The fall concert is really about showcasing the work that our students are doing here in the classroom that has a traditional concert set up.” Braun described the first joint performance of choir, band, and orchestra as “a big reveal moment.” He also said that the choir community is like a big musical family at DePaul College Prep, and they are small but mighty. Braun also adds that “It’s really cool to see all of our student musicians come together and put on a great show. In our ensembles, we’re really working together. It’s a beautiful thing. We really get to create music and work towards a common goal.”
Ariadna Cruz, a sophomore in Honors Band, says that the Haunted concert was her first performance. In order to prepare, she practiced well and used all of the resources provided to her in class, which gave her confidence on the day of the concert. “It was a good experience,” she said.
Emaline Zink, a sophomore in Advanced Choir, also felt confident during the concert because she was well prepared and it was fun singing the songs with her friends. “They bring out confidence in me to be able to perform at my best,” she said.
When describing the choir community, she said “It’s very open, very welcoming, happy, and friendly.” She also mentioned that the community is small and that she wants it to be more well known around the school.
Cruz said that the band community was “very welcoming and diverse.” She spoke more about the band community, saying, “I like the people there. The people are very nice. The teacher’s really great. It has a really calm environment.” She said classes were “a really fun experience. My teacher has been challenging me, challenging all of us, and we’re all trying to move up.”
Braun would agree because he said the music program is a “really welcoming, fun place where students can be creative in a different way that they might not be able to experience in a typical class” Braun said. Since they take a different, no technology approach during their classes, they are able to “work together to create really beautiful music and have some fun.” Ariadna Cruz, also added that being off-screen during class allows her to improve herself and sound good with her instrument, the alto saxophone.
“Teaching high school music has always been a passion, and a dream of mine. When the opportunity here opened up, I was eager to give it a try,” Braun said. There wasn’t a music program when he started teaching at DePaul Prep, so he took initiative to help create it. Now, after a few years of being a part of the music program, he said, “I’m always so grateful to be a choir teacher because I get to work with students who have opted to literally share a part of themselves, that being their voice, and I really respect that.”
“Joyous Noel is more of a mass to celebrate Christmas. Joyeux Noel will be a little more different (compared to Haunted).” Emaline Zink said. Braun said that the best assets of the music program will be shown during Joyeux Noel. He said, “It’s going to be a very beautiful and a great celebration, not only of the holiday season, but of all the diverse holiday celebrations that happen within our school community.”
