The Inside Story: How the music of tonight's Saugus vigil came together
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - On a Sunday afternoon in November, the most unlikely of choir practices was taking place at the Newhall Family Theatre in the center of town. This was no accident. It was a planned practice for school choirs from all over the Hart High School District. They were preparing for an important performance at tonight's vigil for victims of last Thursday's horrific school shooting at Saugus High School.
A student assailant began firing bullets early Thursday morning, killing two, wounding three and then turning the gun on himself. As you can imagine, this shooting has ripped a hole in the heart of a community widely regarded as one of the safest places to live in Southern California.
The choir teacher, 26-year-old Katie Holt, who was leading today's practice, has been at the center of this story. She is a hero. And the daughter of my friend. After kids ran into her classroom, alerting her a gunman was at large, she huddled those students and her own into her classroom. She then turned off the lights and locked and barricaded the doors.
Related: Saugus High School choir director rushes to treat wounded student after gunman opens fire on campus
At the direction of Holt, all forty students then further barricaded themselves in her office. Many of them were crying, and feverishly texting their parents in the darkness. When one of the young students discovered she had been struck by bullets, Katie went back out again. She risked her own life to retrieve a first aid kit, so she could administer first aid to that victim. Mercifully, that student, Addie, survived and was released from the hospital last week.
On this afternoon, Holt was front row center again. Operating off very little sleep and "still processing" what had occurred, she stood at duty once again. This time leading choir members in song. The song they chose to perform Sunday night for the vigil is entitled "Set me as a Seal Upon Your Heart," by Rene Clausen. It's a beautiful, soulful piece about the endurance of love.
The Saugus High Choir sang this song after 9-11. It seemed an appropriate selection as the Santa Clarita Valley tries to heal itself.
This afternoon, the Saugus Choir was joined by choirs from other Santa Clarita schools and both current and former students. These choirs asked to join Saugus High in solidarity. I was honored to be invited to attend today's practice. I grew up in Santa Clarita and what I witnessed made me proud. Students and teachers in warm embraces, comforting each other. Current and former students were united in song and message. Ms. Holt who has shown unbelievable maturity and grace, during this ordeal, reminded choir members, "This isn't for us. It's for our community."