February 14, 2019
By Emily Ma and Ashna Mitta
It’s not every day that math class features a rendition of The B-52’s “Love Shack”.
Every year on Valentine’s Day, small groups of singers are excused from school. These color-coordinated, flower-bearing “Singing Valentines” then flit from classroom to classroom, serenading students.
To ensure that each “mini a capella group” blends together, singers must go through an audition process that matches them to the right quartet.
“The audition process is really fun and fairly low-stress. You sing the audition song, first in octets, and then in quartets, walking around a chair and singing to current valentines, and then you do a short solo and deliver a pickup line—which are usually really funny,” Grace Abe, a senior who has sung in the program for two years, said.
Singing Valentines are a big favorite for many Lexington High School singers.
“I think the coolest part about Singing Valentines is that it brings the music department to the whole school. Even if you're not someone who regularly goes to see a cappella jams, or chorus concerts or jazz nights, chances are you're going to see a singing valentine in at least one of your classes,” Abe said.
Performing in a Singing Valentines group can bring friends closer together.
“My favorite part about Singing Valentines is getting to sing with some of my closest friends, and also being able to interrupt classes,” Stephanie Siracuse, a senior at LHS who has been a member of Singing Valentines for four years, said.
These light-hearted performances come at a particularly stressful time during the school year. By Valentine’s Day, seniors are anxiously awaiting their regular decision results from colleges, and as students approach the home stretch of the school year, stress levels surrounding academics increase.
“I wanted to try out for Singing Valentines because I thought it was a great way to spread some love and laughs to your friends during a particularly tough time in the school year,” Siracuse said.
In order to spread the most joy possible, students are encouraged to buy a Singing Valentines for someone that they care about.
“It's a very positive experience for everyone involved; it's fun to sing to people, it's fun to get sung to, and it's fun to watch someone in your class get sung to,” Abe said.
Although Singing Valentines can be hilariously awkward, the LHS community should embrace the unique experience.
“It may be awkward [in] the moment, but they will laugh about it later,” Siracuse said.
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