WATCH: Enjoy “Listen to the Music” courtesy of Ned & Company
Published 12:20 am Tuesday, May 5, 2020
- A screenshot shows a compilation of videos of Nederland High School’s Ned & Company performing a show favorite, “Listen to the Music” while social distancing. (Courtesy photo)
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NEDERLAND — Ned & Company’s recent performance of “Listen to the Music” quarantine edition is quickly spreading through the Internet.
Social distancing coupled with online teaching led longtime music director Rene Kloes to the assignment that plays to the strengths of the students. The song has been a part of Nederland High School’s show choir repertoire for almost 50 years.
“I had no clue it would turn out so amazing,” Kloes said.
Kloes recorded the piano part, while each student videoed themselves and submitted the video to Kloes.
That’s where student Isabelle Hawkins offered some help. Her father, Raegan Hawkins, has the specialty equipment to blend and create the video. For this Kloes is thankful.
“We are so blessed with so many talented kids and supportive parents and administration. It’s like we’re sitting on a gold mine here,” she said. “The kids are so disappointed, all the end-of-the-year programs have been canceled. This (video) is something that’s really touching.”
Soloist Hayli Phillips, a sophomore, said the experience was fun.
Nederland High School’s Ned & Company.
“They told us to send in videos, we had to set up a background; my mom was being a little extra,” Phillips said with a laugh. “I go through the song and after, send it to Ms. Kloes.”
Phillips loves singing and got her start in choir at church — her whole family is musically talented and her dad and grandfather are pastors. She grew up singing and listening to all kinds of music, so it was natural for her to join the choir at NHS.
In fact she plans to major in musical theater after high school and maybe be on Broadway but that’s “not the end all, be all.”
Kloes meets with students over Zoom and was wondering what can be done to make the end of the year better for the seniors. There are mixed reactions, some saying let it be over and others saying to wait until later and they would gather together “even if they had to do it in the parking lot.
“That just broke my heart. That’s how these kids relate. This is their safe place at school, the choir room,” she said. “When they are in here singing, they are not worried about any other issues in their life. They leave it at the door.”
