Students share their experiences in Bloomington High School South choir at the finale of award-winning season
Sounds of South, Bloomington High School South’s (BHSS) choir, concluded the 2025-26 school year with an award-winning season of recognition. In May, the choir was named State Runner Up in the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) competition. In April, they received multiple awards at the WorldStrides Nashville Heritage Festival in Nashville, Tennessee, including Gold First Place (Concert Choir, 3A); the Adjudicator Award; and the Outstanding Choir award for achieving the highest score of all competing choirs. Senior Nolan Lee also received the Ovation Award for outstanding leadership and service to the community.
“We know the work that we do is very special to us [personally] and at the end of the day, that is what matters to us,” said Everett Sherfick, Sounds of South student director. “It’s our feeling about the product that we put together, and the awards come along with that because we work so hard.”
Sounds of South and high school music programs in the Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) are the culmination of K-12 offerings in musical, visual, and performing arts. High school programs consistently rank among the top 5 statewide.
As Sounds of South performed their spring concert for the 2025-26 school year on Friday, May 15, it was clear that this talented choir is also a strong community.
“Sounds of South creates a family — you know they can support you, and you know they’ll always have your back,” said Madison Spier. “Singing together has a feeling that makes you feel so connected to everybody — just making that one sound. It feels really special.”
“One of the biggest highlights of being in Sounds of South for me has been meeting all the people,” said Josh Sang. “I wasn’t always a people person, but now I am because everyone’s so amazing.”
“One thing I’ve really learned from this group is how a big team of people can work together to create a product that is so intricate,” said Sherfick. “And we do that while supporting each other and uplifting one another to be better as people, and also as singers. I think that experience has been one of the most pivotal and has charted me toward a performance career.”
Building students’ confidence and courage
Being part of such a supportive community helped students gain confidence and refine their musical skills.
“Sounds of South has helped each of us to grow in confidence and courage,” said Victoria Navar. “This group has a lot of commitment, so you have to dedicate a lot of time to it, and we are ready for it because of how Ms. Witten teaches us.”
“This group has changed my life entirely,” said Sherfick. “I can safely say that if I never sang, I wouldn’t be who I was today. And that’s not just because of my vocal ability; that’s because of the lessons I learned that formed my personality.”
“I started choir in eighth grade, and I had no idea how to sing,” said Lexi Parker. “I have a very big voice, and I didn’t realize that. Coming into Sounds of South, I learned how to control that, which really changed how I sing and make a better sound — a pretty sound.”
“When I first came into high school, I came from a private school and I didn’t really know a lot of people so I just kind of kept to myself. When I joined Sounds of South, it taught me how to be confident in myself, and now I am sure of the person that I am,” said Christian Jones. “Performing on stage was something I never thought I would never be comfortable with. It taught me how to take action in the moment and just be myself and make the most of it.”
Students also learned that being part of a community comes with responsibility to the group.
“For performing arts and theatre, and in Sounds of South particularly, I’ve learned time management,” said Abe Corry. “We have class every day, so every day we’re getting instruction and new materials that we have to practice. If you don’t practice, it’s fairly obvious when you come back.”
“You don’t find this type of connection anywhere else,” said Jon Lusinde. “I’m moving, and I wish I could spend two more years here. But something that I learned is that [our work] is not for ourselves, it’s for everybody else.”
Building lasting connections
MCCSC music and performing arts programs are a deeply influential experience for students. Sounds of South graduates know they are part of a long tradition of alumni and that they will carry the experience with them.
“Students from previous years come to visit us which shows how much of an impact Ms. Witten makes in our lives and I know that after I graduate, I will definitely come back to visit too,” said Navar.
“Ms. Witten has taught us a lot of values, and I think people are able to carry those values with them through their lives,” said Norah Stauffer. “You hear about people who come back and say, ‘What I’ve learned in Sounds of South has been something integral in my life that I’ve carried with me, and that has shaped me into the person I am today. I think that everybody in this room can vouch for that. It really shapes us into better people.”
Students credit director Gwen Witten Upchurch with their growth and musical development.
“She somehow manages to dedicate so much time to each of us. She knows each of us — of our lives, of our voices, of the potential that we have. She hones in on it, and makes us better,” said Navar.
“The work she does with us is so personal — she looks at all of us as individuals and knows what to say in order to help us get to the upper level that we need to get to,” said Sherfick.
“She knows those things because she dedicates so much time — even outside of Sounds of South,” said Corry. “She can name every sport that we play because she comes to all those games. I met Ms. Witten through tennis because her son played. Prior to Sounds of South, I had no musical experience, and we were able to connect through that.”
Witten Upchurch has taught at BHSS for 42 years, and her care for her students is evident.
“There’s a lot of love with this group,” said Witten Upchurch. “I feel like I get as much from them as they get from me. It’s reciprocal. I honestly don’t feel like it’s teacher-student. I feel like it’s a team. We lift each other up.”
Bright voices and futures
The Sounds of South Class of 2026 students have bright futures.
Audrey Beverton will be attending Butler University to pursue a degree in Choral/General Music Education. She said she will continue to look up to Ms. Witten Upchurch as a role model as she pursues a career in education.
“I am excited to work toward becoming a choir director, and I hope to come back and student teach,” she shared.
Josh Sang plans to attend the Indiana University (IU) Jacobs School of Music for vocal performance with an outside field in business.
“I feel very well prepared for college,” said Sang. “I know that I’ll have a lot of help because I’ll never lose connection with Ms. Witten Upchurch in college. I’ll ask for help and I know she’ll be there for me.”
Christopher Nuñez will also attend the IU Jacobs School of Music for vocal performance.
“Before Sounds of South, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I was just waiting for something to happen. But now I want to go to IU to pursue music — and I feel very well prepared,” he said. “I’ve only really started operatic style of August this year. I’ve never sung anything like that before, but I still feel immensely prepared for next year.”
Victoria Navar will be graduating early and will attend Indiana University next year to double major in Spanish and clinical psychology.
“I know I’m ready for what’s next, but a big part of me wants to stay,” said Navar.