As spring unfolded across Princeton, the halls of PHS choir classes were alive with the sound of preparation. Singers found their harmony as the choir groups performed their annual Spring Concert at the Performing Arts Center on April 24. A total of nine groups participated in the event, including five choral ensembles and four student-run a cappella groups.

This year, the program featured a variety of genres and styles, including pop, folk songs, and musical theater. The five choir classes performed folk songs in different languages while each ensemble and a cappella groups presented two selections. The concert also included international music, such as an Indian raga, an American spiritual, a Japanese folk song, an Italian pop, and a British song.

“We do a lot of experimenting with different styles, and that’s what makes it really interesting,” said Mia Dunlap ’26.

The singers started preparing for the concert around two months before the concert. The choir classes rehearsed for their performances during class or solo work with choir teachers Vincent Metallo and Sarah Pelletier while the student-run a cappella groups selected their own repertoire and rehearsed outside of school.

“We started preparing for the concert in mid to late February, choosing selections for all the groups and immediately diving into breaking them down and working on all the components,” said choir director Vincent Metallo.

The diversity among the songs excited the singers as they rehearsed and performed their musical journey through their songs.

“Through the preparation for this concert, I’ve learned variations in singing style that are included in [the] different signs that we are singing, [and] the different styles that we’re singing. It [has] expanded my skills in being able to sing,” said Benjamin Caswell Klein ’27.

The tight schedule and the lack of enough time had sometimes put the groups into challenges that they had to overcome.

“Consistency is key,” said Metallo. “Some days they sound great, and others, their voices are a little raspy or they’re not as focused. But we encourage them to always strive to take their performances to the next level.”

With much dedication and hard work, the PHS choir groups hoped that their audience came away from the concerte feeling uplifted.

“I’m hoping that they feel inspired to learn more about the musical traditions that we [sang] for them [and] I hope they derive some joy from hearing our beautiful singers,” said Klein.

Besides highlighting the musical range of the PHS choir program, the concert also offered a space for students across grade levels and experience levels to perform, collaborate, and connect through music.