The Students News Site of Francis Howell High School

FHHS Today

The Students News Site of Francis Howell High School

FHHS Today

The Students News Site of Francis Howell High School

FHHS Today

Girls excluded from all men’s choral festival



A room full to the brim with testosterone. That’s what one would have found at Acappellooza- a choral festival for guys only.

While all the girls stayed behind, guys from three of Howell’s four choirs filled a bus alongside students from Howell Central and North to travel to UM-St. Louis, Sept. 20.

“It sucked not having our guys here,” senior Mariah Mathis said. “It was lonely.”

But the guys had a much different reaction to missing school for Acappellooza.

“I had an incredible time,” freshman Nico Cusimano said. “I hope we get to go next year.”

This was the first time in two years that the Howell boys were able to attend due to the popularity of Acappellooza.

“Because it was the sixth annual [festival], the word has gotten out how great it is,” choir director Karey Fitzpatrick said. “Within about two hours of opening registration it was full.”

At Acappellooza, the guys listened to a professional men’s choir, as well as learned a new song of their own, “I’m Sitting On Top Of The World.” At the end of the festival, men from over fifty different choirs combined to sing as one huge men’s ensemble.

“It was new and sounded really good when everyone harmonized,” junior Daniel Lehmkuhl said.