Multiple times a year, you may have walked into the jam-packed Large Gym or Football Field for an assembly and remembered cheer’s impressive backflips, many cultural dancers, and the marching band’s roaring drums. But there is one group that often slips under our radar: our very own Choir Team, also known as the Vocal Association.
Finding Their Voice Again
This year marks a big comeback for the Choir Club. After years of switching between directors and struggling to stay connected, the group has finally found a steady director named Mr. Hekel.
QHHS Choir Treasurer Kayle Valles described the club’s new dynamic: “Our choir fosters a really supportive environment. We help each other out when we’re struggling with our parts, and over time we’ve learned how to understand each other’s needs.”
This new sense of teamwork has already paid off. This year, they showcased their debut talent at the Homecoming Rally, where they sang the national anthem and “Real in Rio.” They also performed at the Battle of the Bands, and there’s more talk of competing at a choral festival later this school year.
“Last year was rough,” Valles added. “But this year, with Mr. Hekel, we finally have direction, and we’re aiming to win a Superior rating at Music in the Parks!”
Beyond the Singing
Still, beyond hitting the right harmonies and competing against other groups, our choir team promotes the idea of fostering connection through teamwork and expression. Vice President Fatima Ocampo hopes their performances make students feel something special.
Ocampo said, “It became one of my biggest blessings. Making new friends, discovering a talent you didn’t know you had, or just finding your love for singing.”
Looking to the Future
Choir President Jocelynn Quintanilla, who has been in the club for all four years of high school, has seen it grow from a small, tight-knit group to something much bigger.
“It’s changed so much. With our constant teacher, Mr. Hekel, the club brought the people who were in the small club closer,” she said.
Currently, our choir is rehearsing for the Día de los Muertos Showcase by performing two Spanish songs alongside the QHHS Folklorico team during the intermission. Make sure to check them out on November 7th, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at the Lancaster High School Theater. But they are not stopping there. Their festival season is coming, and they are prepared to represent QHHS with their harmonized voices.
After rebuilding following multiple tough years, the Choir Club has proven that perseverance pays off in the end. As Quintanilla said, “A major goal this year is to build up the choir’s reputation and expand our performance opportunities so we can show what choirs’ talents are.”
So the next time you hear the national anthem echo through the loudspeakers in the gym or catch a song you recognize during their performance, just sit back and listen to QHHS finding its voice again.
