The 2017 school year brought new opportunities to Belgreen High School students, as Hannah Vincent became the choir director of the first choir Belgreen has had for many years.

Vincent said she approached the principal last year, and she was supportive of the endeavor.

“I noticed at the talent show last year that a lot of them could really sing, and it made me sad that they didn’t have a chance to practice or grow that talent,” Vincent said.

When this school year rolled around, Vincent said Principal Ann Scott was also in favor of the idea and loves that there is a choir at the school again.

The music the students are learning was purchased through a music grant, which Vincent said was received last year for use this year.

Already the 12-student choir has performed at Belgreen’s Veterans Day program, for which Vincent said they sang a medley of five songs.

“It was hard, but once they realized that they actually sounded good together, they were proud,” she said.

For the holidays, the choir will be singing at the school’s Christmas program and will also be going around caroling at the local nursing homes. Vincent said they are working on songs like “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” among others.

“They’ve come a long way, and they’ve worked so hard,” she said.

Three days a week, the students arrive at 7 a.m. for choir practice. They said arriving so early was their least favorite part of participating, but they love singing and working together now, despite their initial reservations.

“Most of us don’t have any experience, but it comes together well. When we first started, we didn’t even know what warm-ups are or how to do them,” one student said.

Vincent, whose teaching career has included third- and fourth-graders, said it is a completely different experience working, with the older students but she loves it.

“It really means a lot to me to have this program at Belgreen,” Vincent said, “and I hope others see the importance of it and want to participate.”