From basses to sopranos, vocal instrumentation and perfect harmonies, Piedmont’s Acapella Program is back after a brief hiatus.
The new a cappella club had its first meeting on Sept. 30. It now meets every Monday and Friday in the choir room during lunch. It differs from most clubs in that it is run by a teacher, La Nell Martin.
PHS A Capella Alumna Amy McKenzie said Martin has been teaching choral music for 30 years.
“I think [Martin] is perfect,” she said. “She is incredibly qualified.”
Martin has been the Artistic Director of the Oakland Youth Chorus (OYC) for over 20 years.
“La Nell is a very sweet director, she really cares about everyone who shows up and she is able to teach us our music very quickly,” junior Ali Atanasio said.
Atanasio’s sentiment was echoed in the reasoning behind hiring Martin.
“La Nell is a lifter of all boats. She lifts everyone up. She’s not just about the people that she thinks deserve her time. You know, she is really wanting everyone to come up. When I saw her last spring with Oakland Youth Chorus, I was like, this is what Piedmont needs,” McKenzie said.
Principal David Yoshihara said that Martin is currently on contract and will be part of the future of the program.
“La Nell is passionate, she is very knowledgeable,” Yoshihara said.
Before its departure in the spring of 2023, the a cappella class was a part of Piedmont for 60 years. Former a cappella teacher Joseph Piazza said at its height, one in every five students participated in the classes.
“It was a choir for everyone,” Piazza said. “Everyone could join, you could be a jock or a loner.”
After Piazza’s retirement and the COVID-19 Pandemic, the program stopped.
“I really think it was a perfect storm of [Piazza] retiring and then the pandemic. There were many different things going on, but I think the combination of losing a long-term teacher, and not really getting someone in that was willing to pick up the program,” McKenzie said.
Junior Nate McKenzie said he is a member of the club as well as the Oakland Youth Choir, and is very happy to see it back in Piedmont.
“I think that an a cappella program is a really important part of any good public high school. It’s a really good source of community,” he said.
Atanasio said she loves the community and flexibility of a cappella.
“My favorite thing about a cappella would be that it’s a very close group of students and we get to choose what we sing,” she said. “[A cappella] has a flexible schedule. It’s Mondays and Fridays at lunch, and you don’t need to commit to anything. You can show up and try singing with the group, and you don’t have to return, but everyone is always welcome.”
Yoshihara said that he has sat in on meetings of the club and is happy with the participation.
“There are a core group of students who come every time and seem very dedicated,” he said.
Yoshihara said he hopes they can carry this momentum into the future.
“I’m a big supporter of the visual performing arts, so any ways we can continue to increase interest and participation is great,” he said.
Yoshihara said the program will be offered on the course list for next year.
“Long term I hope [a cappella] can bring back the performing arts for us, which is largely untapped now,” Yoshihara said.
