Inside the teaching, travels, and transformation of students whose harmony reflects community and humanity.
(Editor’s Note: This is Part Two of Rhizomes’ special feature on St. Genevieve School. Part One explored the leadership, mission, and inspiration that shaped the school’s growth and identity. This installment highlights the world-acclaimed choir, Valiant Voices, and the students whose voices carry St. Gen’s spirit of harmony to audiences far and wide.)
“Supporting this core human imperative to live in community is our unique ability to share our thoughts, ideas, and emotions. The success of our species comes down to this: Art creates culture. Culture creates community. And community creates humanity.” – Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us (2023)
Interviewing 56 students in one day might seem daunting, but their reflections on choir director Mr. Avendaño, known as Mr. A, revealed both admiration and transformation. Students described him as God-fearing, passionate, knowledgeable, caring, and patient. One said he was “a light, providing me a sense of peace and belonging.”
Amanda Allen called him “unbelievably talented, with unparalleled commitment to kids to see the world. Imagine devoting his summer to choir festivals in Europe for two weeks, one week of rest, and another two weeks in China. We hit the jackpot with Mr. A.”
Music as discipline and joy
Under Mr. A’s leadership, the Valiant Voices mastered thirty songs in twelve languages, from Latin and Mandarin Chinese to Tagalog, German, and Swedish, even including bird calls and nature sounds. He emphasizes patience: “We cannot master a piece overnight. It takes time to learn a skill, and with patience, once they reach a goal and standard, great fulfillment will be achieved.”
Rehearsals begin with warm-ups tailored to specific challenges. Students practice solfège, circle together to fine-tune harmony, and critique performances to improve. One said, “I only bring my best positive self into the choir. I practice and make sure I know my part in the song.” Another added, “There’s always a place in the choir to grow and develop your voice.”
On the world stage
The choir’s accomplishments are extraordinary for a non-auditioned group. They have sung O Sacrum Convivium for Mass at the Cathedral, won two gold diplomas at the 2024 World Choir Games in New Zealand, and performed at Carnegie Hall and St. Peter’s Basilica before Pope Francis.
Times Square New YorkIn 2024, they toured Italy, singing at the Duomo in Milan, St. Eustachius in Venice, and churches in the Alps. “My favorite moment was performing in a church in the Alps and receiving a standing ovation. Another was in the Duomo. It felt like a vivid dream being in such a beloved and holy place,” said Breanna.
In 2025, they traveled to China for the Bond with Kuliang: China–US Youth Choir Festival, performing in Fuzhou and Beijing. Elijah remembered the breathtaking Alps and the Great Wall. Jolene, in her fourth year, reflected: “It made me less shy and more open. Singing in the Alps brought me joy because of how nice everyone else was at the festival and how great the view was.”
Students transformed
For many, the choir experience reshaped confidence and identity. Jolene discovered openness. Abigail defined harmony as “a magical sound… when a bunch of people come together.” Christer admitted he was initially forced to join but later realized “music and singing is something I love to do, which I hope inspires others as much as it inspires me. With my friends, I made memories singing in person to Pope Francis and the First Lady of China, Madam Peng.”
The Valiant Voices are proud of their medals, but their greater triumph is in the solidarity they nurture within the choir and across cultures. Each performance, each song, becomes an act of building community through love and harmony.
* * *
* * *
Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 16 years. She also contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4decades.She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participating NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and over 22national parks in the U.S., in her pursuit of love for nature and the arts.
