Trevor Nicholas C’08, a Choral Director at Chicago’s Senn Arts High School, knew his students needed a lift after a series of tragedies at his high school was compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic. Along with other Senn artists and alumni, Nicholas’ choir collaborated to produce a music video for his original composition “Who Will Carry Me?” The visual art project features more than 30 Senn Arts students singing, dancing, and playing instruments from their homes.
“The song is a creative response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the trauma of experiencing and watching anti-Black violence repeatedly displayed on the news while in isolation,” said Nicholas. “The song is also a call to action: As school districts across the country are cutting arts budgets to address the financial impact of Covid-19, the 4-minute video reaffirms the arts’ ability to connect, heal and strengthen communities.”
Senn Arts student Mia Mendoza said the process was healing. “Being alone all the time and stuck with your own thoughts is not something that’s easy to do. But for me personally, I felt that doing this project collectively truly portrayed the message of the piece that even then, and now, we aren’t alone.”