Harriton’s all girls quartet, is warmed up and ready to sing. It is composed of four talented musicians, junior Victoria Alfred-Levow, sophomore Aurora Murray, junior Olivia Prendergast, and senior Stefanie Vallinino, the girls’ intense passion for music and song emanates not only from their answers to my questions, but the sound and tone of their music.

The group dynamic, contagious energy, and musical talent is sure to excite any audience.

Started last summer by Olivia Prendergast, the group is in its early stages, but hearing them sing, you’d never know it. Olivia comments on how she put the group together. “There was a guys’ quartet last year and I was like girls can do this better,” *laughs*

“I also really wanted to get people involved. The same group of people are in Vocal Jazz, Pitch Please, and Chorale, so it’s a really nice opportunity to build up some people and really have a good time with a lot of friends, who are talented.”

The quartet, dubbed the Four Chordial Girls, an incredibly appropriate, “punny” and therefore wonderful title, sings “stereotypical quartet songs” as they put it, but there’s nothing stereotypical about their singing. Their voices blend in such a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat, hair on end, eyes open wide, and sometimes with a gaping mouth.

From Lollipop, to Mister Sandman, to holiday music and even a possible rendition of the popular All About That Bass, the girls put their own spin on each piece. It’s their love for music, and apparent joy, that makes each performance so noteworthy, pun entirely intended.

When asked what their favorite thing about singing was, each girl responded with a unique but equally heartfelt, genuine idea of what music means to them. Their enthusiasm was so compelling I almost burst into song myself!

Aurora, expressive and sincere, has an appreciation for the art. “I guess it’s just a way of expressing myself in other art forms. I just love it. There are really no words.”

Stefanie, with her ever-ready smile, grinned and shared, “I guess in the cheesy way, it does bring people together. And it’s just a fun past time that a lot of people can be really good at or good enough to be like ‘Let’s have fun with this.’”

Thoughtful Victoria pondered the question. “I think my favorite thing about singing is that it can be different things at different times. It can be an outlet for expression; it can be a social mechanism. I don’t remember which one of my directors said this, but ‘you always have to know that when a character sings, they’re only singing because they can’t express their feelings any other way’. I just really like that about singing–sometimes there’s just a point in your life where you can’t talk anymore. It sounds really dumb, but you just have to find a way to express yourself that doesn’t involve screaming so that’s what singing is. It’s like screaming but in a different way”.

And Olivia, who put her heart and soul into developing this group gushes just a little. “My God, I want to go into music professionally when I’m older. That’s what I want to do with my life. It’s the most important thing to me in the entire world probably, other than my family. I love my friends but music, it’s everything to me. It really is, 100%. Finding people who are dedicated is so incredible because there are so many people who are just like ‘I’m a singer.’ But you have to be dedicated, you have to want to work, you have to want to be a part of something. I think Biz (Mr. Bizich) said this once, ‘You need to want to be about something higher than just what it is right here’ and it’s true, it really is. My mom is constantly telling me to shut up because I sing so much, but it’s like my whole life.”

The group plans to make its debut performance at Harriton’s winter choral concert on Sunday, December 14 and will continue its performance tour at the WIA No Place for Hate Talent Showcase, December 18^th.   They’re also set to perform at a Hayes Manor Concert on December 20^th and looking to sing at The New Leaf Club and/or the Melodies Café (previously called Milkboy). The group is excited to go caroling for Christmas next year and even distribute “Singing Valentine Cards” around Harriton.

There’s no shortage of places to find these girls singing their hearts out. Keep your eye out for the budding stars, as they are sure to appear on not only the Harriton scene, but all over the Main Line.