Noa Santoro, Watchung Hills Regional High School, NJYC
ARISE
“To me, Arise! feels like community. It feels like unity, harmony; a large puzzle being completed. Artistry in individuality and uniqueness of expression; representation of all of our differences; inspiration from one another and the world around us; self-expression without judgement; empathy for all. Arise! within Wharton Arts means that we join together in our musicianship and find company in both our similarities and our differences. In the choir it is the unity that we feel when we sing as one: having total trust in each other.
We rehearse together, perform together, and work together to make beautiful music. And that process instills us with a bond that transcends language barriers and differences: a bond of heart and soul through our music. But, that bond is not just between the musicians themselves, but with the audience. We seek for the audience to join us in our music and be their own part of it. Each time we perform each individual member of the audience finds their own interpretation. Whether that interpretation is of the lyrics, melody, or a memory or emotion which the music evokes. The pillars of Arise! are not just for the musicians, but for any who take part in our music. Anyone who listens to our music is a part of it, anyone who plays or sings with us, no matter who they are or where they come from. Arise! for music connects us all as one.”