BY CLAUDIA TOVAR, Editor

Bella Voce is an advanced women’s choir class at Kaneland High School. Since there are more girls than boys who participate in choir, choral director Brian Kuntsman wanted to find more opportunities to challenge them.

“There aren’t enough opportunities or spots available in Madrigals/Chamber Choir for all of our talented female singers. Due to this fact, I had to create a new class so each of the girls in the choir program would have a place to be challenged musically and vocally,” Kuntsman said.
Bella Voce provides students improvement on lifelong musicianship and helps them participate in music after high school. Because it is an all-girls class, the class uses women’s choir literature. Bella Voce will take part in at least five performances this year: Fall Choral Concert, Madrigal Dinner, Holiday Concert, Heritage Festival (takes place in Washington, D.C.) and the Spring Choral Concert.

There are advantages to taking this class. One advantage is that students learn advanced woman vocal techniques, have more music to sing and to improve their singing.

“[Kuntsman] focuses on our vocals for advanced music, and I think my voice has gotten more mature than most of the class,” junior Kayla Hedgren said.

A choir without male voices is a new concept at Kaneland.

“We don’t have any male voices, so it makes the music sound different with only girls, in a good sense,” sophomore Rachel Miller said.

This class is a great way to bring a mass group of girls who love to make choral music.

“It is a class that allows students to have fun and to grow musically and to make new friendships,” Kuntsman said.