The Bellairs Performances

The Bellairs group. Image by Jay Choi.

The Bellevue High School Jazz Choir “Bellairs” has experienced great successes this year! In February, they attended the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) conference, staying in Yakima on the 13th and 14th. In March, they performed at the American Choral Directors Association down in Tacoma, one of the largest choral events in the Pacific Northwest.

Bellairs has demonstrated a great deal of dedication to their music and has consistently improved throughout the year. While they are jazz-focused, their current repertoire contains a diverse range of styles, including “Green Dolphin Street” (arr. Kirk Marcy), “Each Day” (by Cyrille Aimée, arr. Ryan Hyde), “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught” (From South Pacific the musical, arr. Jeff Horenstein), “Sister Moon” (by Sting, arr. Amanda Taylor), and “How Sweet It Is” (To be Loved by You) (by Marvin Gaye, arr. Jamie Dyer).

In fact, each song holds a unique meaning for members in Bellairs.

“My favorite song we performed was ‘How Sweet It Is.’ I really loved the upbeat vibe of the piece, and it was especially meaningful for me since I had a solo in it,” sophomore Jay Choi said.

Furthermore, the special part about these travel experiences isn’t simply being present at a “fancy” event, but the opportunity to build communities and be part of something greater.

“WMEA was an amazing time, we were very happy to perform at the conference along with Sammamish’s jazz choir. We also got to hang out a bunch and play Mario Kart,” sophomore Anya Alameddine said.

Having a great time. Image by Jay Choi.

“Honestly, one of my favorite memories from both was the bus rides. Getting to laugh, talk, and just hang out with everyone during the rides made the whole experience really special,” sophomore Jay Choi said.

These conferences serve as platforms to foster deep connections within the group and with other schools, ultimately finding harmony in music.

Bellairs exemplifies the values and purpose of the BHS Choir Department—harnessing the power of music to connect diverse communities and cultivate empathy. Their successes are built on both virtuous singing abilities and the sharing of joy with others.