Charlie Judd welcomed the Andrean Vocal Ensemble to the Somersfield Academy visiting classrooms and meeting students. The final stop of the tour was the music room. Ms. Pearman’s students were quiet when they entered the music classroom and sat on the rug. Facing them in a semicircle were 27 “giants” — the teenage singers of the Andrean Vocal Ensemble, a High School choir from Middletown, Delaware. The singers, their director, Quinn Kerrane and chaperones arrived to Bermuda the day before to begin a 5-day tour of the island, including visits to several schools, staying in homes of locals and touring the island’s sights.

Their first song “Paniai Maki” had the students swaying and tapping to the beat. The second song “Siuil A Ruin” included singing in Gaelic, prompted a little Somersfield singer to say how she was Irish and that we should know that. The third song “Hlohonolofatsa” was from South Africa and many students raised their hands when asked if they had been to Africa. This was just a taste of the more than 7 languages sung by the choir from their repertoire — Postcards from Around the World.

Next, the young singers, about 30 or 40 in all, bunched into several rows with little ones in the front and the taller, older singers in the back. Ms. Pearman led them in several beautiful songs with inspiring messages in each work. The initial shyness gone, the children sang with enthusiasm and their joy was infectious. They received a rousing ovation from the Delaware teens, prompting very large grins from the young singers.

To cement the true “exchange” aspect of the visit, the two groups of singers combined to sing a song from The Greatest Showman, a new popular movie musical. It was wonderful to watch — songs were sung, tears were shed and smiles spread throughout the music room. Thank you Mr. Judd and the Somersfield Academy for the invitation to visit your school and many thanks to Ms. Pearman and your singers for sharing your time and voices in this exchange.

The Andrean Vocal Ensemble will give a free concert this Thursday, March 8th at St. John’s Anglican Church, Pembroke — 5:30pm. All are welcome.