Through rain and sleet, cold mornings and sunny evenings, old streets and grand cathedrals, the Notables represent the school, bringing joy to any and every community they visit.
The Notables have a busy schedule leading up to winter break: ten concerts, with nine rehearsals in between. Venues include Bryn Mawr Hospital, The Merion Cricket Club, Waynesborough, The Melmark School, Centennial Hall, and the Big Room.
“And in the midst of the cold and dark and rainy weather, we can bring a spark of joy.” – Mr. Donald Holdren
“It’s a great time of year to be a musician, first of all, because there’s so much great music that is associated with this time of year. We have the opportunity to sing for so many different groups of people. And in the midst of the cold and dark and rainy weather, we can bring a spark of joy,” Notables director Mr. Donald Holdren said. “It’s really an honor, and it’s a privilege. It’s very exciting.”
The Notables demonstrate that music not only enriches our lives with spirit, beauty, excitement, and hope, but also facilitates the connection of people and communities.
“One of the things that I’m really excited about this year is new, exciting events,” Mr. Holdren said. “We’ve never been invited to sing at this event before, but it’s being held at the Melmark School in Berwyn. The Melmark School is a school for special needs students, and so the opportunity to go there and to sing for them is very exciting.”
“The Notables improve from year to year, but also from rehearsal to rehearsal. We consistently insist on raising the bar. There’s always something that we can sing more tightly, performances we can polish, or one more correction and step forward that we can take.” – Mr. Donald Holdren
The Notables are far from finished, as their journey and influence continue to grow.
“The Notables improve from year to year, but also from rehearsal to rehearsal. We consistently insist on raising the bar. There’s always something that we can sing more tightly, performances we can polish, or one more correction and step forward that we can take,” Mr. Holdren said. “And honestly, one of the great things about being the director of this year’s group in particular is that they are hungry to get better. They want to be the best, and they have that fire.”
These performances can be for both curious strangers and those closest to its members.
“My favorite venue that we go to is the Toys for Tots concert in the Big Room,” Fifth Former Mookie Dombar said. “It’s mostly family and friends. [Last year] we also went to EA’s campus for an Inter-Ac meeting. The chapel there is incredible, which led to our best performance there.”
As their voices rise in chapels, concert halls, hospitals, and schools, many people realize that their impact is more than just songs. Each song becomes a unifying piece of art woven into the lives of the people they meet, leaving behind warmth, connection, and a sense of being seen. It’s that sense of service and connection that many of its members love most.
“I get to be in a group of guys who really care about what they do, and I get to show my talent to the community,” Third Former Alex Keuffel said. “When someone at a concert is having a bad day or is going through a rough time in their life, and we make their day just a bit better, that’s all I can ask for as a performer.”
“I really enjoy performing in front of crowds and seeing the joy we bring others,” Hugh Williams ’27 said. “I don’t feel much pressure as a Junior anymore, so it feels more of a brotherhood than anything. I love how we explore music while forming friendships for a lifetime. My wish is that our music brings joy to whoever hears our music and makes the world a better place.”
“I know how much joy I have from being a part of this [program] and watching other a cappella groups we are in contact with, like the B-flats in Denmark,” Dombar said. “It’s certainly brought me a lot of joy, and I hope it does the same for others.”