While COVID-19 disrupted schools across the globe, the Van Nuys High School Choir Program faced a unique challenge: maintaining harmony amid a revolving door of conductors  during the transition back to in-person learning.

In the first semester back in 2021, long-time choir teacher Mrs. Brianne Arevalo caught covid-19, leaving her students on their own. Upon her return after three weeks, she resumed teaching but soon announced she was leaving Van Nuys, citing LAUSD’s vaccine mandate as the reason for her departure.

Despite the circumstances and a plethora of substitute teachers, the Vannaires, the school’s highest-level choir, decided to make the most out of their situation. 

Alumni Emily Morales and Ava Azarmi, choir board members, took charge. Together they taught the Vannaires songs, made part tracks and even coordinated a concert with help from the Performing Arts Coordinator Mrs. Fanny Arana. 

“It was chaos, splitting into sectionals with me trying to teach sopranos and altos,” Azarmi said. “Although I did a lot of the work teaching parts and helping organize our rehearsals, it was a wholly collaborative effort among the group.” 

During the summer of 2022 students learned they would have a new choir teacher, Mrs. Alexis Weddle.

“When I heard we were finally getting a permanent teacher I was ecstatic,” said Lily Mandell, choir student.

Eight weeks into the semester, Ms. Weddle announced that she was pregnant and planned to go on maternity leave for two months. Despite this, she successfully led the choir through the first semester, including a November show and Solo Showcase before leaving in February.

During her leave, a long-term substitute, Mr. Shawn Wilson, took over. 

Mr. Wilson guided the choir throughout their second semester, leading the Spring and Solo Showcase. 

“I was in that exact same position in high school,” Mr. Wilson said. “I was more than happy to take that burden away from the students.”

In fall 2023, choir students were relieved to have Mrs. Weddle back, with no more substitutes or independent work. 

However, celebration didn’t last long as eight weeks in she gathered her students to announce she would be taking a leave of absence due to the toll balancing teaching and caring for a newborn were taking on her. Though many were disheartened, the students respected her decision.

“I think it sucks that she had to leave because of how bad her job made her feel,” expressed third year choir student Emily Chavez.

Mrs. Weddle also announced that Mr. Wilson would return to lead the program. He once again stepped up, guiding the choirs through multiple showcases, the Spring musical “Sweeney Todd” and graduation.

But Mr. Wilson decided to pursue other opportunities, feeling that a permanent position was not his goal, though he planned to continue as a substitute teacher.

He even invited the advanced choirs to help select a new teacher.

The interview was a chemistry test between the classes and potential new teachers. 

The person who stood out to students was Ms. Deborah Tejada, a classically trained teacher who had taught for years before across the country. 

Finally, the Choir Program has a new permanent teacher, leaving many students excited.

“I’m happy to get an actual teacher for senior year,” Sophia Hillestad, two-year choir student said.

Others have found the constant changes taxing and tiring.

“Each choir director had contrasting methods of teaching their students, so whenever a new teacher came in, they unintentionally uprooted a lot of the progress the previous instructor had established within the program,” former Vannaire Ella Robinson, who graduated in 2022, said.

The resilience of  the students has been crucial to the choir program’s ability to adapt and thrive despite the significant challenges.Now that there is a permanent teacher, the program is better equipped to provide students with a more consistent and structured environment going forward.

“While each teacher has been extremely different, what they had in common was that they only expected the best from their students and treated them as such,” senior Xavier Martin-Porter, a two-year Vannaire and choir board member said. “Ultimately with their hard work and dedication, they helped me to become better at what I love to do.”