Mount Sion Secondary School’s choir holds unmatched importance for the school’s students.
The all-boys school formed the choir six years ago when they noticed a group of students singing together in the halls. In a YouTube video, choir director Colette Kearney recalled:
“We noticed these pupils were singing around the school. We gathered them together and we have transformed them into a group that sound really well.”
The Mount Sion choir is all about diversity and inclusion. Boasting members of 24 different nationalities, the group also welcomes those with disabilities with open arms. In the beginning, however, there were doubts about whether the idea would work.
“Of the three teachers involved with the choir, none of us are music teachers, and we don’t even have music as a subject in the school,” Kearney told Waterford Live.
Despite their lack of formal training, they’ve managed to achieve some incredible goals.
This year, the Mount Sion choir won a silver medal at the International Choral Festival in Prague, had the honor of meeting the famous Kingston Choir, were featured on Winning Streak as part of the National Lottery Good Causes Awards, and were lucky enough to collaborate on a song with Don Mescall in London.
Between all these activities, the choir also managed to hold their first ever Christmas concert and go completely viral.
The Christmas concert was “extra special” because the choir had organized to have talented girls sing with them during the event.
But of all the performers, one duo stood out above the rest. Jessica Reinl, a fifth year Ursuline Waterford student, performed the song “Shallow” alongside Mount Sion graduate Christopher Halligan.
Their performance went viral not only for their incredible talent but also for Chris’s adorable reaction to hearing his partner sing.
Featured in the film A Star is Born, “Shallow” was originally recorded by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The song is vocally complex with moments demanding great lung power and control.
Christopher begins the performance— but when he hears Jessica’s voice, he can’t control his awe.
“Chris and Jess had only sung the song through one time in November,” the YouTube video caption explains. “We were stunned and amazed when they sang this so beautifully. Many, many people cried tears of joy listening to this rendition.”
While the rendition is undeniably good, Chris’s clear admiration for his partner is probably the best part.
Even the choir members in the back smile, shooting knowing glances when they hear Jessica sing. Afterward, Kearney told “Good Morning America” (as cited by ABC News):
“The respect and awe that Christopher has for Jessica is completely genuine. The vocals are incredible, but I think the message that’s just as important is that of friendship, support, and love.”
Videos of the performance have been viewed more than 27 million times across various social media platforms.
A few comments on the video read:
“He was proud of her!!!”
“That man was in awe by that woman’s beauty and talent, and his body language said everything about how she made him feel.”
“The way he looks at her tells it all.”
Watch the heartwarming moment below.
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