On Feb. 14, classrooms across Middleton High School (MHS) experienced alarming interruptions that lasted several minutes, pausing tests, movies and timed essays. These weren’t fire drills or schoolwide announcements – they were love songs.
When Bristol Street’s inconspicuous Singing Valentines stand appeared earlier that week outside of the North Commons, curious and unsuspecting students passing by purchased the musical candy-grams. Within an hour, the new business had sold out before word could even spread about it.
This left many students unprepared for Valentine’s Day, when a group of 14 singers bombarded their AP Language, Environmental Science or Spanish classes, crowding around an off-guard individual and giving them a full-length personal performance in front of their peers.
Behind these unexpected concerts was Bristol Street A Cappella, a student-led extracurricular within the MHS music program. Students enrolled in choir at school are eligible to audition each fall for the club, often known colloquially as Bristol Street.
The Italian term “a cappella,” which translates to “in chapel” or “in choir,” describes a type of vocal music sung without other instruments. This style, paired with Bristol Street’s focus on pop hits, made the Singing Valentines concept a perfect new project.
Excited to embarrass their friends and significant others, MHS community members ordered the valentines for $5 apiece. They submitted the name and classroom number of their subject, and could write a personalized note on a plastic bag of sweets that would be delivered with the song. The students could then choose between “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen, “Only You” by Yaz or “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King as the means of their message.
Although many students were unaware that the pop-up performances would occur, by lunch, the school was buzzing with retellings and recordings. Bristol Street became flooded with last-minute song requests, with some students even offering to pay more than the listed price.
MHS senior Benjamin Zumbrunnen was attending AP Environmental Science when he experienced an ambush.
“I was definitely shocked right before it started, mostly because they asked ‘Is there a Ben in here?!’ and I didn’t know what was going on,” he said. “Overall, though, I thought it was really sweet.”
This lack of warning quickly became an integral part of the Singing Valentines appeal, with bystanders amused and victims flustered when an entourage of performers dedicated to them surrounded their desks.
Zumbrunnen agreed that the experience was certainly “a little awkward, because the whole class is watching a bunch of people sing to you.”
Led by seniors Linus Ballard and Sid Loniello, members of Bristol Street spent the winter preparing for their Valentine’s Day debut. The group rehearses twice a week for several occasions throughout the year, and has previously performed at MHS Choir’s Country Breakfast fundraiser, Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) staff retirement parties, a local LGBTQ+ Pride Month festival and other venues.
Because this year was Bristol Street’s first time planning the valentines, some singers were initially unsure how their peers would respond. However, most recipients laughed at the lighthearted deliveries, with some even singing or dancing along. Spectators also applauded, and even stepped out of neighboring classes to witness the songs.
“I appreciated how kind onlookers were to both us and the people receiving the valentines,” said Lily Hanson, a junior in her third year of Bristol Street. “I honestly expected a lot more hate.”
Staff members received warnings of the visits in advance, but some were surprised to discover that they themselves were the recipients. Matthew Donta, a social studies teacher at MHS, received two Singing Valentines throughout the day.
“I felt the love that day and it will definitely be a cherished memory,” Donta said. “It was heartwarming and silly, yet a teeny bit traumatizing in all the best ways.”
In the future, Bristol Street can be seen during Fine Arts Week and at the MHS Choir program’s spring concert on May 1 in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Contrary to their usual onstage setting, many members of the a cappella group enjoyed taking to the classrooms in a more interactive approach to their music. Although no future plans have been confirmed, it’s likely that MHS has not heard the last of its sweet, surprising and slightly scary Singing Valentines.
