As melodic voices float through the halls, filled with a little thing called love, February 13 will mark another successful year continuing the longstanding tradition.
Every year students look forward to the entertaining day to spread some love to those they hold dear.
“[The Silvertones] sell the opportunity to have students send each other Singing Valentines, which can be purchased during lunches throughout the day,” music teacher Mr. Nicholas Pignataro said.
The tradition has been used as a fundraising event for the Silvertones’ many outside of school endeavors for years now.
“I think it’s been going on since Mr. Shankweiler first started. So I think pretty close to the beginning of Silvertones,” junior Silvertone Ryan Markey said.
The phenomenon is a hysterical way to bring some joy into a student’s day.
“What will happen is a group of singers will come and surround a student or someone in the classroom and sing really close to them, they have five or six love songs that they prepare,” Pignataro said.
Not only is the serenade fun (and often embarrassing) for the student at the center of attention, but the surrounding audience usually gets a crack out of the spectacle.
“It’s pretty adorable to watch and also slightly embarrassing to experience,” choral director Ms. Lindsey Reinhard Silva said.
However, the event doesn’t just happen. Students spend a great deal of time preparing for the big day. The sale of Singing Valentines became available to students on Thursday, January 30th.
“We spend November through February, learning and teaching the songs or repertoire, and then we sell them at lunches,” Markey said.
The many months spent practicing for the special moment always pay off, with smiles being exchanged from students and staff all day long. While many teachers embrace the chance to open their classroom doors to the hilarious shenanigans, some prefer to eliminate the distractions from their teaching time.
“The teachers might not want that interruption, but most, I think, are excited about the opportunity,” Silva said.
The musical group divides themselves into two different cohorts for efficiency and to reach as many students as possible.
“The members of Silvertones split up, with the sopranos and altos in one group and tenors and basses in another group,” Silva said.
The event is completely student-run, with Haven staff members maintaining a hands-off approach.
“Mrs. Silva gives us time to practice.” Markey said. “The older kids and leaders just teach the pieces to the younger kids.”
The tradition has been a longstanding staple to the quintessential Strath Haven experience. Students never know when and where they could receive a Singing Valentine. The surprise is what makes the phenomenon so popular.
To further shine the light on the group’s vocal abilities, students are able to purchase a soloist of their choice to serenade their target student. “Students can purchase specific singers of their choice to go to one of their peers,” Silva said.
The Silvertones hold a lot of pride in their ability to work hard and persevere through challenges to pull off this entertaining event.
“I just want to say that I’m proud that we worked hard, I have no doubt that they will do a good job,” Markey said.
CORRECTION: This story was updated on February 12 at 7:30 p.m. to correct a quote.
