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More than 800 sixth graders filled a Fairfax County auditorium with music as the All-County Choral Festival celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Students from 97 elementary schools participated in the performance, which was televised and streamed live. Proud families packed the audience for a milestone honoring five decades of music education, community and student growth.
“It brings tears to my eyes every year,” festival organizer Laura Dinkov said. “This is a moment these students — and their families — will carry with them forever.”
The annual festival has become a multigenerational tradition. Some participants have followed parents, siblings and former teachers onto the stage, while dozens of current music educators once performed there as sixth graders themselves.
Marshall Road Elementary School music teacher Annie Robak sang in the festival in 1997. She now watches her own students take part in the same experience.
Jeanette Essig, who remained involved with the event until retiring in 2023, said the concert offers a moving opportunity to reflect on the students’ preparation and then experience the results with their families.
Students Find Confidence and Community
For several young singers, the festival’s significance extended well beyond learning songs.
Shilotte, a Poplar Tree student, said chorus gave her a sense of belonging, purpose and joy. After sometimes feeling like “one of many” at school, she found a community of students who shared her enthusiasm for music.
“I learned that everyone’s voice matters — and that each unique perspective has a place in the world,” she said.
Miri of Mantua described chorus as a community built around kindness, creativity and collaboration. When she once became embarrassed after singing the wrong part, unfamiliar students nearby reassured her that it was all right. The experience helped her understand how individual voices can unite to create something larger.
Oak Hill Elementary School student Ananya said participating helped her develop confidence, work as part of a team and express herself authentically.
“It wasn’t about just hitting the right notes — it was about discovering who I am and sharing that with others,” she said.
For Daniel, a Cherry Run student, joining the chorus continued a family tradition started by his mother, who still sings some of the songs she learned as a participant. He also described music as a form of communication that people everywhere can understand.
Anaizia of Mount Vernon Woods, who hopes to play bass in an orchestra, called the festival an opportunity for children to pursue what they love and “level up.”
A Tradition Supported Across Fairfax
The anniversary performance was supported by 155 general music teachers and numerous volunteers. Dinkov said its reach also included approximately 100 administrators and more than 2,000 audience members.
“When a choir sings together their heartbeats synchronize,” she said, describing the unity created among the singers, teachers and community members.
The festival also gives music teachers an opportunity to develop their choral-conducting skills while working with accomplished conductors.
Robak said programs such as All-County Chorus help students discover people who encourage them to grow and be fully themselves. As the festival enters its next half-century, that combination of musical development, confidence and community remains at the center of its legacy.