Vishanth Vijayakumar
By Evelyn Tu
Vishanth Vijayakumar comes off as the shy bookish boy with the silver rings — calm, cool, and collected. But once you wiggle your way past that detached shell, you discover his true personality. Sassy comments litter our conversations. He's a friend who provides unwavering support, and a vote of confidence. And perhaps best of all: he’s a captivating artist. Vish is a core member of the Senior Chamber Choir. An avid singer, he has been a part of choirs since he was 11. Recently, he also finds himself at the piano. Having stepped away from the instrument when he was young, Vish has rediscovered the worthwhile hobby, which now acts as an alternate creative outlet.
Before arriving at Collingwood, Vish actually lived in England for 6 years. His long-time friends remember his classy “can’t” endearingly. He found it fascinating to see the similarities and differences between English and Canadian culture. He said, and I quote: “Living in two different countries has given me a greater appreciation for different cultures and different ‘forms’ of art as well.” Coming from such a lens, Vish adores all forms of art. He is captivated by art’s ability to evoke emotion in the masses. It can unify individuals with different goals, ignite widespread social and political change, and honour the community.
By Evelyn Tu
Vishanth Vijayakumar comes off as the shy bookish boy with the silver rings — calm, cool, and collected. But once you wiggle your way past that detached shell, you discover his true personality. Sassy comments litter our conversations. He's a friend who provides unwavering support, and a vote of confidence. And perhaps best of all: he’s a captivating artist. Vish is a core member of the Senior Chamber Choir. An avid singer, he has been a part of choirs since he was 11. Recently, he also finds himself at the piano. Having stepped away from the instrument when he was young, Vish has rediscovered the worthwhile hobby, which now acts as an alternate creative outlet.
Before arriving at Collingwood, Vish actually lived in England for 6 years. His long-time friends remember his classy “can’t” endearingly. He found it fascinating to see the similarities and differences between English and Canadian culture. He said, and I quote: “Living in two different countries has given me a greater appreciation for different cultures and different ‘forms’ of art as well.” Coming from such a lens, Vish adores all forms of art. He is captivated by art’s ability to evoke emotion in the masses. It can unify individuals with different goals, ignite widespread social and political change, and honour the community.
Art is an integral part of Vish’s life. Having long been involved with choir, he has fully embraced his identity as a ‘choir kid’. For example, the activity has moulded him to be a better team member. While it is definitely important to develop your own timber and texture as a singer, it is crucial to listen to your peers and adjust to the group dynamic in a choir. The benefits of his experience with the choir bled into other aspects of Vish’s life where teamwork is necessary as well, like in school projects and service initiatives.
Vish continues to hone his abilities. As a rising senior, he expresses regret in having limited time to dedicate to singing. He looks forward to the summer break as a retreat to explore his musical aptitudes, especially in piano. But Vish believes that music is not based on perfection, and that the experience is just as valuable as the end result. It is the artist that determines how much they can get out of the music depending on how much effort they put in. Art continually inspires Vishanth; when viewing art that moves him to the core, it pushes him to create an experience that will evoke the same feeling in his audience. The impact of art is a give-and-take. It is an artist’s greatest joy to generate an indescribable feeling in their audience — a mix of awe, belonging, and understanding.
When asked to reflect on the past, present, and future of his art, he identifies that the accomplishment that he is most proud of is winning Gold 2nd at the Anaheim Heritage Festival with the Collingwood Choir in 2018. The hard work that the choir put in transpired into a satisfying and fun-filled trip, cementing the singers’ relationships with one another. A recent event that showcased Vish’s singing was the annual Band & Choir Final Concert at Collingwood. Performing with both the Concert and Senior Chamber Choirs, he greatly enjoyed performing before a live audience for the first time in two years - the first time since the pandemic hit that the school has been able to put on its annual musical concert. Not wearing a mask and being able to interact with the live audience allows Vish to better convey emotions as he sings. After high school, he hopes to sing in local choirs or join a university ensemble, and pursue his piano education.
Vish continues to hone his abilities. As a rising senior, he expresses regret in having limited time to dedicate to singing. He looks forward to the summer break as a retreat to explore his musical aptitudes, especially in piano. But Vish believes that music is not based on perfection, and that the experience is just as valuable as the end result. It is the artist that determines how much they can get out of the music depending on how much effort they put in. Art continually inspires Vishanth; when viewing art that moves him to the core, it pushes him to create an experience that will evoke the same feeling in his audience. The impact of art is a give-and-take. It is an artist’s greatest joy to generate an indescribable feeling in their audience — a mix of awe, belonging, and understanding.
When asked to reflect on the past, present, and future of his art, he identifies that the accomplishment that he is most proud of is winning Gold 2nd at the Anaheim Heritage Festival with the Collingwood Choir in 2018. The hard work that the choir put in transpired into a satisfying and fun-filled trip, cementing the singers’ relationships with one another. A recent event that showcased Vish’s singing was the annual Band & Choir Final Concert at Collingwood. Performing with both the Concert and Senior Chamber Choirs, he greatly enjoyed performing before a live audience for the first time in two years - the first time since the pandemic hit that the school has been able to put on its annual musical concert. Not wearing a mask and being able to interact with the live audience allows Vish to better convey emotions as he sings. After high school, he hopes to sing in local choirs or join a university ensemble, and pursue his piano education.
