Suhani Gupta

Senior Shruti Srinivasan sings a solo during Downbeat’s performance. All of the upper school choral groups came together in the last concert of the year, “How Can I keep From Singing.”

Singing groups Capriccio, Dolce Voce, Downbeat, Festival Chorus and Rhapsody performed in their final choral concert of the year on May 2 in the Patil Theater. Themed “How Can I Keep From Singing,” the performance, named after the song Capriccio would sing at every concert in prior years, honored Nace’s contributions to the choral program. Choral members recognized seniors and honored vocal music teacher Susan Nace’s retirement after 23 years.

As a surprise for Nace to celebrate her retirement, a group of alumni attended the concert and briefly came on stage in the middle of the show. They participated in the performance alongside Capriccio students by singing the last few notes of “How Can I Keep From Singing” by Robert Lowry, showing appreciation for all that Nace has done for the program. The base melody of that song is based on the popular choral piece “Amazing Grace” by John Newton, which reflects how under Nace, Capriccio sings for freedom and courage.

“Ms. Nace is just such a beloved teacher that has touched the lives not only of me but a lot of my friends here at Harker,” Cantilena alum Krishna Behta (‘18) said. “So of course we had to come and support her and celebrate. It was super surreal, especially getting on stage and singing again under her conduct. Seeing so many people come together because of the impact that she has made has been really special.”

The groups sang both new works and familiar pieces from previous shows. Festival Chorus, an ensemble including all members of Dolce Voce and Rhapsody, sang “Jai Ho!” by A. R. Rahman, a song from the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire, which featured lively choreography and eleven solo parts.

Dolce Voce member Anya Lu (9) especially enjoyed singing “Trade Winds” by Stephen Leek because of its easily understandable lyrics and clear imagery. For songs in other languages, like “Erschallet Ihr Lieder” by Bach, she noted that choir members were expected to fully understand the song’s meaning, not just sing the lyrics.

“We were quizzed on the lyrics and we had to translate it to English,” Anya said. “That was really interesting because I don’t think I’ve ever put that much effort into a choral song before. There was a lot of work separating and putting all the pieces together, but when you have everyone singing in the room, we really mesh together.”

The concert ended with performing arts director Laura Lang-Ree, Nace and vocal music teacher Jennifer Sandusky detailing the seniors’ choral journeys, handing them flowers and cards and sharing hugs. Each senior also received a customized plastic crown from the underclassmen.

Festival Chorus member Nicholas Knauer (10) reflected on the connections he made with the graduating seniors and sense of community between choral groups and teachers.

“We all cried when we did the tribute for Ms. Nace and the seniors,” Nicholas said. “It was very sad because they’re seniors and they’re all leaving, and I’ve seen all these people do choir for so many years and have fun in it. It’s just sad to see all these people I once saw as role models leaving.”

After the concert, alumni reunited once more with Nace backstage. A slideshow of handwritten notes and emails dedicated to her also played across the RPAC lobby projector, showcasing her teaching legacy.

In a speech before the show, Nace highlighted the meaning behind the name of the concert, sharing how music unites communities during strenuous times.

“‘How Can I Keep from Singing’ is not just a song lyric but a reflection of the way that music rises up, even in the face of struggle,” Nace said. “Singing in a world that often feels fragmented, it’s easy to lose touch with what’s real. But amid all the world’s noise and artifice, choral singing calls us back to what’s possible: authentic collaboration, deep listening and a shared sense of humanity.”