Right from the start. I gave you my heart. Oh-oh I give you my heart. So don’t go breaking my heart…
With emotional renditions of beloved breakup songs and love songs like Olivia Rodrigo’s “Driver’s License” and Elton John’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” the Palo Alto High School Choirs will perform their annual Pops Concert to the theme of “Make-up/Break-up” at 7 p.m. today and tomorrow in the Performing Arts Center.
According to senior and soloist Rori Escudero, the concert songs will follow a theme of love and heartbreak, something reflected in the choir students’ shirts.
“Our concert is called ‘Make-up/Break-up’ because the songs we are singing for groups and soloists are reflective of some of the greatest breakup songs but also some of the greatest love songs,” Escudero said. “Our concert t-shirt has ‘make-up’ song titles with a patched heart on the front, and ‘break-up’ song titles with a broken heart on the back.”
According to junior Darwin Rescorla, who is in Viking Men’s Chorus — the male choir group that became an official course offering this year — they will have an opportunity to better showcase their work and choreography in the upcoming performance. The men’s chorus will perform alongside the Festival Choir, Spectrum Singers, Madrigal Singers and acapella ensembles.
Escudero, who is performing with four of the ensembles, said she is looking forward to this year’s concert because the broad theme allowed students to choose from a variety of artists and songs.
“In the past, there have been themes that are more difficult to find songs for because they are so specific, but with this theme a lot of people were able to pick songs that they love for their solo,” Escudero said.
Choir teacher Brittney Kerby organized the annual performance and the theme.
“Students can choose the songs based on the theme,” Kerby said. “It could be from early pop music in the 50’s and 60’s all the way up to contemporary. This year the theme, ‘Make-up/Break-up’, is about the highest highs and the lowest lows of relationships.”
Kerby explains that this particular theme has an energy unique from traditional choir concerts.
“It’s a full one production, [and] what you’d expect to see if you saw a pop star perform,” Kerby said. “It’s amazing to watch the choreography come together on stage as well as seeing the singers perform solos and shining individually.”
According to sophomore and soloist Anjini Sanchorawala, the support and encouragement from other singers is an integral part of the concert.
“The pops concert is a concert where many people take up solos and getting on stage with a mic is definitely nerve wracking,” Sanchorawala said. “Being able to hype each other up no matter what happens on stage is one of the most important roles.”
Tickets are priced at $5 for students and $15 for adults and can be purchased online at palychoirs.com.
