While February is the peak of winter chill in Cold Spring, on Friday, Feb. 13, the halls of Haldane High School echoed with a warm tradition. The annual Valentinograms returned this year, bringing Haldane love, music, delight… and embarrassment too.
Every year on, or around, Valentine’s Day, Haldane High School’s chorus visits classrooms throughout the day and sings love songs like “My Girl” by The Temptations and “For the Longest Time” by Billy Joel. Students can buy a Valentinogram for five dollars, send it to a specific person, and choose a song. The chorus drapes the victim in a feather boa or a cowboy hat before surrounding them to sing the song their significant other or friend ordered for them.
“We’ve grown in size a lot since our first year,” chorus teacher Samuel Sauer stated. To celebrate that growth, the chorus hosted a T-shirt making party where members created custom “Valentinogram swag.” Sauer noted that the group had “great fun” at the gathering, spending time listening to music and eating snacks. Sophomore Diem Lee agreed that the social aspect was a highlight, noting that the party helped the chorus bond before the event.
In addition to providing a morale boost, Valentinograms also serve as a fundraiser. The proceeds support the general Haldane Music activity account, which covers essential expenses such as field trips, guest artists, and accompanists.
While the performance setting changes from a stage to a classroom, the preparation remains consistent with the music department’s standards. Sauer noted that the rehearsal process for Valentinograms is “very similar” to that of a formal concert. However, because the same songs are performed each year, the group is able to progress through the repertoire quickly. Sauer explained that music is learned more easily when students can “reinforce the harmonies and arrangements in real time,” allowing experienced singers to guide others through the notes.
Performing in a crowded classroom offers a unique experience. Lee explained that performing Valentinograms is more of an “intimate experience” compared to a traditional stage. Senior Near Sevilla also noted that the classroom setting offers an interesting acoustic shift. She stated, “It’s interesting because you get to space out and voices are coming from all around the room.”
Beyond the music, the tradition brings the school together through humor. Lee noted that it is always funny to see more introverted students or teachers receive a song. “We embarrass them,” he said.
Sauer believes that the tradition serves a purpose for the student body, hoping that the event becomes something the community looks forward to during the “coldest and darkest times of the year.”
