Una Voce, One Voice

“Could so many voices from age three to age fourteen be raised in harmony? So many questions. Yet, the incredible positive energy around the idea turned the possibility into a reality.”

Stillness settles into the classrooms. Miscellaneous paper scraps and pencils litter the floors. Lockers hang open and empty. Classroom walls are stripped of student work. Silence descends as the final good-byes and happy summer wishes echo down the hallways and out the doors. For students, school is over for the year and summer vacation is here.

For the Eton School faculty and administration, this is the time at the end of each school year to gather as a community, reflect on the year that just ended, and engage in conversation about the year to come. In June of 2013, there was a lot to celebrate. We had a successful first year with our new Head of School, Dr. Russell Smith. We were reaccredited by our accrediting agencies, Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) and American Montessori Society (AMS). Re-enrollment was strong, and the admission season had been successful. There was much to look forward to in the 2013–2014 school year.

As the faculty and administration engaged in reflecting and planning, a seed of an idea sprouted. The suggestion of an all-school choir concert paused the conversation.

Una Voce, One Voice, struck a chord. Could we make this happen? Could we get buy in from the music teacher? Could we find a venue to house the entire school? Could so many voices from age three to age fourteen be raised in harmony? So many questions. Yet, the incredible positive energy around the idea turned the possibility into a reality.

In January 2014, Eton School had its first Una Voce all‐school choir concert. Practices pulled students together from across the grade levels. Songs were heard at all times of the day as students hummed and sang as they worked. There was a growing sense of camaraderie at each practice. The evening came and the concert was a huge success. As all the voices came together in the final song, We are the Young, there was hardly a dry eye in the house.

Although this was originally thought to be a one-year event only, that soon changed to, “We have to do this again!” The entire Eton School community loved the experience. It is now an annual event that everyone looks forward to.