by Caroline Ponticelli

On Friday, November 3, McCaskey’s Voices of Freedom gospel choir performed their annual fall showcase. The show’s setlist included “Go Down Moses,” an African-American Spiritual song with an amazing solo by Yarelis Perez. Other songs included “How Much Can We Bear,” by Hezekiah Walker, “I Pharadisi,” a South African folk song, “Praise your Name,” by Cedric Ford, “Soon and Very Soon,” Andrea Cronch, and “Better is One Day” arranged by Trey Mclaughin. 

During a number of the songs, Voices of Freedom alumni performed with the chorus, in a beautiful display of how close a family Voices of Freedom really is. I spoke with Anna Gauthier, a junior at McCaskey, and asked what she would say to anyone interested in joining Voices of Freedom. She said, “Anyone who’s interested should know that it is a commitment and there is no choral group in the county as closely-knit as us. Alumni who have graduated years ago come up on stage at every concert.” Kaydence Canty, another junior, recalled her fondest memory from her time in Voices of Freedom: “Singing ‘Total Praise’ at last year’s spring concert because they brought up alumni and I got to sing it with both my older sisters and my mom.” The love and community fostered by voices of freedom between generations is abundantly clear.

Jared Groff, a senior at McCaskey, told me his biggest take away from his time in the choir: “The importance of having fun. This summer I had to decide whether or not I was going to take a strenuous schedule filled with AP and IB classes or a more fun schedule centered around music. I decided to take three music classes and a few AP and IB classes in order to keep challenging myself. This decision was a great choice because I find myself enjoying school more and living my senior year to the fullest.” 

It was an amazing fall showcase led by talented Director Ms. Stephens, and impossible without all of the hard work from the band and phenomenal choir.  It’s safe to say that we are very proud to call Voices of Freedom McCaskey’s very own.