children get older; i'm getting older too

photo by AZADA ENSHA for the new york times

I grew up singing choral music. It taught me not only music theory but a number of lessons in psychology and myself. My last choral director was cruel to me - and me very much in particular; I set aside the harshness he directed at me [an insecure 15 year old] because I loved being a part of the making of music. So I was moved on seemingly hundreds of levels watching the PS22 choir perform. They even made Tori Amos cry in person, singing one of her songs to her.

Each individual expression, each twirl of a finger, each patting of the chest and expressive eye-closing is worthy of its own gallery, its own focus. And yet the meshing of all of these things is what makes this particularly beautiful. I think it shows that the idea of kids making music together isn't just an inspirational concept for cinema, but it plays out every day. I know there must be other choruses out there that are similarly passionate and expressive. Here are some of my other favourites by PS22: