Jennifer Hartnett, choral director at Norwood High School, fought for a new inclusive choir to be included in the Senior District Festival at New Bedford High School to “have a place where students who need more help in the classroom or fear of auditioning” can gain the joyful experience of festival choir. 

The chorus is called “Key of We” and will allow more students to experience singing in a chorus.

“I hope that students will have a place where they can have fun and make music without the pressure of having to audition and learn notes,” Hartnett said.

Southeast Senior Districts has been running for decades within the choral department. It consists of multiple auditions, in which students are required to learn a part of a choral arrangement, sight-read, and sing a scale. However, these environments can be nerve-racking and highly competitive. In Hartnett’s experience as a choir kid at her high school, she wasn’t given the right materials to be the best singer she could’ve been. Now, with the “Key of We,” every child, no matter their background, can participate in a choir festival. 

“I brought it to the district meeting in October, and it was met with a great deal of excitement and joy,” she said.

Although something similar to “Key of We” could have been introduced earlier, no teacher or administrator thought that it was worth the time or the money. For Hartnett, it was just one more dig until the diamonds.

After introducing this idea to the district, Hartnett had to get it approved through the board of directors. Upon approval, Hartnett persevered to get it approved throughout the entire festival organization, and in doing so, received a standing ovation. Hartnett’s tenacity and determination inspired every member in that meeting. Although there were still concerns about the financial and spatial cost for this new inclusive choir, Hartnett didn’t back down. She applied for a Mass Cultural Council Grant and is currently waiting to hear back.