Liv Hector and Mishelle Rich

Instead of singing for their supper, the choirs of Webster City High School will sing for your supper Friday, just happens to be Valentine’s Day.

The event will take place at TGrid Iron Grill & Sports Bar, 1121 E. Second Street, Webster City.

“We’ve been practicing 40 minutes a day, five days a week for both the Variety Show and Valentine’s Day,” Emersen Paukert, a senior at WCHS, said.

Paukert added that she wasn’t sure she was cut out for singing, but WCHS Vocal Music Director Greta Nelson encouraged her to audition anyway. She auditioned, passed muster and looks forward to both practices and performance.

“Everyone is so welcoming in choir and so thankful for the leadership of Ms. Nelson,” Paukert said. “She’s very understanding of every student’s needs, and you can just tell she loves teaching.”

Speaking of the Valentine’s Day dinner at Grid Iron, Paukert said, “We’re still doing our traditional singing Valentine’s Day promotion this year. I think we have about 18 booked right now. But that number will grow as we get closer to Valentine’s Day. Anytime we sing in public, it’s a chance to show the community what choir is and why it’s so enjoyable.”

And it isn’t just singing.

Paukert said two WCHS guitarists, Greta Kenville and Sam Hurt, both freshmen, will play guitar at Grid Iron to accompany the choirs.

“Most of the songs will be sung acapella, but a few will also feature the guitars. It will be very special.”

Liv Hector, a junior at WCHS, is equally excited about the Valentine’s Day concert.

“I love to sing. I’ve been in choir since seventh grade and, most of all, I love Ms. Nelson. She’s always there for you, she’s not afraid to be funny with students, and she’s firm when she needs to be. Choir is just the best place you can be at school thanks to her.”

Speaking of the program planned for the Grid Iron concert, Hector said, “It’s probably the biggest set we’ve ever done. There will be over 20 songs sung by our three choirs.”

The three choirs referred to are the Varsity Choir, Lynx Singers and Treble Choir, which is new this year.

“We’re really promoting this event by putting up posters all over town, and sharing posts on Ms. Nelson’s Facebook page.”

Mishelle Rich, another WCHS junior, began singing in choir in seventh grade.

“I could sing before I could talk, so it was an easy decision for me.”

She particularly likes being a member of both the Varsity and Treble choirs, and believes extra-curricular activities in high school “looks good on someone’s resume.”

She’ll build on that resume next fall as a freshman at Wartburg College. She feels especially lucky to have attended Christmas With Wartburg 2024, an annual event drawing 6,000 visitors to its Waverly campus. Among those attending were about 50 WCHS students.

Rich acknowledges this exposure to Wartburg, and enthusiastic endorsement by Nelson, a Wartburg alum, gave her confidence to enroll.

She explained the need for a Treble Choir.

“We have 19 singers in Treble Choir, including about equal numbers of soprano 1, middle sopranos, and altos.” For those who don’t know, soprano 1 singers can, according to Rich, “hit higher notes that otherwise wouldn’t be sung, including high A.” Middle sopranos can sing either soprano or alto, while the pure altos sing in their classic low to middle ranges.

Nelson credits Sarah Kopriva with the idea for the special Valentine’s Day program at Grid Iron.

“Sarah Kopriva approached me about this opportunity, and after a short meeting I knew it would be a great event for the Grid Iron, our choir students, and our community. Singers have been rehearsing 10 different love songs ranging from Elvis Presley to Bruno Mars. It’s been fun introducing singers to classics like ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart,’ as well as having them sing pop songs they love like ‘I’m Yours,’ by Jason Mraz.”

So, instead of sitting at home complaining about your mid-winter blahs, here’s a chance to have supper and support your local high school music department.

The regular menu, and Valentine’s Day specials, will be served from 5 to 9 p.m., and the WCHS chorus students will perform from 6 to 9 p.m.

Thinking of a proposal, or just a good opportunity to embarrass somebody? For $10, the singers will come to your table and serenade you and your dear ones. To arrange this, just email Kopriva prior to Friday. Her email address is sarahkopriva@gmail.com.

As a final thought, you have more than one love in this live; there’s your sweetheart, of course, but why not treat a parent, grandparent or special friend to a special evening, as well? There promises to be plenty of love — and music — to go around.