Balancing both outside and school choir requires lots of commitment and practice, but the students’ loyalty to singing outweighs these challenges. To some, the choir is more than just another class; it helps students develop and become aspiring musicians. This includes senior student Natalie Park, who is involved in choir inside and outside of school, she expressed enthusiasm stating, “I’ve loved singing since I was a kid…Perry actually came to perform at [my] junior high, and I was like ‘This is so cool and I’m just gonna continue doing it in high school’.” Park shared that freshman year she began to do choir outside of school to further her passion for singing. This motivated her to pursue Millennial Choirs and Orchestras for two years, allowing her to later sing with the Chandler Children’s Choir. 

Many choir students are involved in choir programs outside of school, where they rehearse, perform, and extend their skills. Some have been a part of citywide youth choirs, church choirs, or competitive groups that perform at local events. This improves their experience and brings energy to Perry’s choir. Park stated, “School choir- we’re kinda there to have fun…whereas outside it’s a bit more strict but still that super fun and almost [has that] family-like environment.” Other students who balance the two groups, said they found that choir had taught them to manage their time and work well with others. Senior Sofia Jurado does Chandler Children’s Choir while doing school choir, and expressed, “They’re pretty separate for me… outside of school choir is kind of a big commitment because we have other events besides rehearsals, but in-school choir… we don’t do much outside of school. It’s easy to balance.” The choir can be seen as time-consuming, but according to Jurado, students who join learn how to manage their time well, teaching participants responsibility.

 Their hard work can be seen in every performance, representing the school’s spirit and talent in the community. Jurado claimed, “I think it makes me more dedicated and helps me commit to things easier because there’s a lot of practicing I have to do on my own, so I have to hold myself accountable.” Choir offers more than just an opportunity to sing, it offers them life lessons, like not only growing as singers but also as individuals. This teaches them accountability and allows them to express their creative capabilities. The group teaches discipline and important life skills. With their hard work, choir students prove that they learn a lot more than just music, they are taught how to develop important life skills. These students can bring the school’s community together using lessons learned through choir in everyday life.