Harmony for the Holidays: The Lawrentians Sing at Lessons and Carols

By Anna Fermo ’28, Big Red Sports Network Reporter/Photo credits Yushi Kamisaku ‘26,Big Red Sports Network Photographer

From the outside, a student choir seems simple: singers standing in neat rows, sheet music in hand, dressed in black and white. However, behind every perfect harmony and polished performance are long hours of dedicated work. The Lawrentians, Lawrenceville’s “varsity” choir, is no exception. Made up of the School’s most accomplished vocalists, this ensemble depends on consistency, organization, and collaboration that extend beyond their voices.

On practice days, people passing by Behr Hall in the Clark Music Building may hear strange noises — sirens, humming, or combinations of sounds. According to The Lawrentians’ conductor and the School’s Director of Vocal Studies Jessica Block, these warm-ups help student voices “hit notes at the top and bottom of their range.” After warming up, rehearsals move on to mastering the different elements of a harmony, experimenting with lines to see how they fit together. Though this process can be tedious, the read-throughs are “full of potential,” and for Block, “the singers’ smiles as they hear that beauty for the first time is truly a highlight.”

Preparation is key for public performances. According to Block, however, no performance is nerve-racking if thoroughly rehearsed. But beyond the individual singer, what makes a successful choir? Though singing is important, listening is even more so. For The Lawrentians, “‘we’ always comes before ‘me,’” Block said. Listening and responding with the collective sound results in far better music than simply singing well alone. Martina Yanovich ‘26, a member of The Lawrentians, shares that “being in the Lawrentians has helped me grow as a singer so much. Learning from (former director) Mr. [Robert] Palmer, and now Ms. Block, has been an amazing experience.”

The goal of The Lawrentians is simple but powerful, Block said: “to create joy and uplift the community through song.” When blending their diverse voices together, individual talents transform into a collective, harmonious whole. This sense of unity extends beyond the choir into the Lawrenceville community at large. When performing at annual school events like Lessons and Carols and the Spring Choral Concert, The Lawrentians bring faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni together. For both singers and the audience, the experience is more than music — it’s about connection. Nicole Halucka ‘26 agrees that “being part of the Lawrentians has revealed to me the profound power that emerges when many individual voices come together in unity.”

With 25 years of experience teaching at independent schools, Block can say with confidence, “The Lawrentians is the best choir I have ever had the pleasure of conducting. The singers are not only talented vocalists, they are also committed to becoming strong musicians as well.”

All are invited to attend Lawrenceville’s annual candlelight service of Lessons and Carols on December 16 at 7 p.m. in the Edith Memorial Chapel. Come celebrate the magic of the holiday season and honor the dedication and hard work behind The Lawrentians’ songs. 

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.