Who Doesn't Like Christmas? A Choral Profile.

Starting in 1997, the Choral Program at Moeller began with Mr. Ballbach, who had a dream in mind: grow chorus’s popularity. “We only started with 2 people,” Mr. Ballbach remarked in a recent interview. “Now we stand at over 150 participants.” It is truly remarkable that in 26 years the program has made its way to the highest participation percentage for all art classes at Moeller.

A program with this growth has to have intrinsic values instilled within it, right? Collin Yox, a member of the vocal ensemble, said, “Spending time over the last 3 years with my fellow chorus members, the vocal ensemble sort of forced the remaining singers together even more, boosting our brotherhood as well as our work effort in the classroom.” The chorus program has shown it has given Moeller students the opportunity to grow student relationships and spiritual connections.

Shane Ketcham, another member of the vocal ensemble, reports that “Singing more often in Mass through the chorus program has strengthened my relationship with God and the church.” But the Chorus does more than just build values and instill lessons in young men of Moeller. Through Mr. Ballbach’s special form of using Sol Fege, a technique in music that helps establish the usage of our hands in the thinking/note forming process, Ballbach has helped students to use their hands and their voices together to form a perfect, harmonious sound. Using the piano as well, the students are able to read and recognize pitches to help create a foundation for their singing.

Now what does all this hard work in the classroom go to? Well in the arts, performing is the best way to showcase beauty. One popular favorite performance of some vocal ensemble members, and Mr. Ballbach himself, is the Christmas Musical held at the end of the first semester annually. Here, Ballbach and his pupils demonstrate their fine talents to Moeller students, parents, and staff. Ballbach himself commented, “It really is swell to have everyone sing our favorite Christmas songs.” Right? Who doesn’t like Christmas?! Another great way of showing their talents take place every Sunday at any local church around the Moeller area, generating more spiritual connection through the program.