Brighton High School was alive with music, laughter and more than a touch of nostalgia on Dec. 12, 2025, as the annual winter choir performance took center stage. The auditorium filled quickly with excited friends, families and community members eager to watch the choirs share their talents, spirit and musical pieces that they learned during the fall semester. With a two-hour program featuring 23 numbers, the evening showcased some of the best of Brighton’s vocal talent, spanning from eager Maltby sixth graders to seasoned BHS seniors.
Under the direction of Mr. Phillip Johnson, Brighton Choirs director, and Ms. Corrine Shourds, Maltby Choirs director, the choirs tackled a wide range of music, from “Carol to the Bells” (originally composed by Mykola Leontovich) to “All is Well” (written by by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Michael W. Smith). Pianists Sarah Hamilton and Kim Kingshott were the backbone of the event, providing the accompaniment that carried singers through intricate harmonies and lively performances.
One of the distinguishing factors of the concert was the collaboration between the Maltby Sixth Grade Choir and the various BHS groups, including Chorale, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Chicapella, Da Capo and Notetorious. Seeing the sixth graders join forces with the high schoolers was both adorable and inspiring to many students.
“It was really cute; it was nice to see people who aspire to do choir in the future,” senior Madison Moore said.
Senior Violet Von Buskirk also noted how the collaboration allowed the high school choirs to inspire prospective future choir members.
“I think it’s a really good way to get involved and to recruit future choir people,” Von Buskirk said.
The sense of community was palpable as the older students modeled leadership both on stage and behind the scenes.
“It challenged me as a performer. We had to work in ways we never had to work in before, and it was really fun!” senior Vermiglio-Smetanka said.
The choirs and featured a cappella groups performed a variety of pieces, ranging from traditional choral arrangements to more modern pieces. “Go Down Moses” by Paul Robeson was Moore’s favorite song to perform, while “Stopping by Woods,” a melodic piece performed by the Chamber Choir, stood out to Von Buskirk. Vermiglio-Smetanka was all about “Ritmo” by the Black Eyed Peas and J Balvin, especially loving the energetic claps, snaps and stomps that made it “firecracker fun!” Other audience favorites included a rendition of Jack White’s “Friends,” Billy Joel’s “Movin’ Out” and Radiohead’s “Creep.” To close out the night, the BHS Choirs performed “All is Well,” an annual tradition that involves the graduating seniors receiving a special honor.
This final nostalgic performance highlights how for many students, being a part of choir is about more than just the music.
“I enjoy the community the most that comes along with it; all of my friends are in choir,” Moore said.
Vermiglio-Smetanka also emphasized the sense of community and togetherness that being a part of the program promotes.
“It brings together a lot of different people. There are people where you are like, ‘why would I know you,’ and then you come together singing,” Vermiglio-Smetanka said.
While the winter concert marked the BHS Choirs’ last performance of 2025, the program has many upcoming events throughout the beginning of 2026, including A Cappella Night on Jan. 9; the Solo & Ensemble Festival at West Bloomfield High School on Jan. 31; and the BHS musical “Frozen” from March 13-22.
