by Jen Oemig
Chelmsford High School a cappella group The Crescendos perform for senior citizens at the Chelmsford Council on Aging.
CHELMSFORD – Over the past couple weeks, Chelmsford High School’s a cappella groups, The Thursdays and The Crescendos, have been making the rounds to spread the joy of song to senior citizens in the region.
The student musicians performed for folks at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence in Tewksbury, the Chelmsford Council on Aging and the RiverCourt Residences in Groton.
Amanda Roeder, the advisor for both of the a cappella groups, said these performances are always really special.
“It’s an opportunity for the students to sing everything they’ve been working on throughout the year,” she said. “It brings up all kinds of memories and it’s an opportunity to reflect back on how much they’ve all grown.”
The Crescendos stopped by the Chelmsford COA on Friday, May 8, performing not only their competition set, but also covers of songs by the likes of Ariana Grande and Destiny’s Child.
“One of the best parts about being in this group is singing for the community,” said senior Samitha Badhri, alto and co-president of The Crescendos. “It’s our way of giving back, spreading our music and our joy. Our group is such a family and it’s always great to spread that love to other people.”
Badhri said she is very appreciative for everyone who comes out to watch The Crescendos perform.
“It feels really good to look out into the audiences and see people singing along with you,” she said. “It reminds us why we do what we do. Sometimes we get caught up in the competition of it all and working really hard, but these events remind us that it’s about the music and bringing people joy through music. That’s what a cappella’s all about.”
Vocal percussionist Karen Khela, a senior at CHS, said she was thrilled so many people came out to watch them at the Chelmsford COA.
“I’m happy to see that, even though we’re a lot younger than them, our music still gets through to them; they’re having fun and enjoying it,” she said, adding that she’s sad this was one of her last performances with the group. “A cappella has been the cornerstone of my high school experience.”
For Roeder, these performances mark the culmination of her career at Chelmsford High School, as she will be retiring at the end of the academic year.
“This time of year always is emotional because the seniors are moving on,” she said. “We have seven seniors in [The Crescendos] and three in The Thursdays. It’s always emotionally heightened.”
Asked what she’ll miss most about watching the groups perform for the seniors, Roeder said the sense of community.
“The community within the group, the way they support each other and just genuinely enjoy working together, it’s such a joy for them to bring their music to the Town of Chelmsford,” she said, adding that she’s incredibly grateful to have been an educator in the town the past 12 years. “It’s been an amazing community to teach in.”
