Newbury Park High School ended its school year with its traditional production featuring the concert choir and the Panther Chamber Singers. It was filled with shimmering vocal performances, sentimental farewells from seniors and much affection for the school’s choir director, John Sargent.

The difference between this school and others in Conejo Valley Unified School District is that NPHS focuses more on singing than on frequent costume changes, elaborate sets or props, or “Glee”- style show choir routines. The singers stood on risers but were free to move and sway with the music rather than standing stiffly.

The Panther Chamber Singers started with five songs, beginning with a medley from “West Side Story.” Following this was “If Ever Two Were One,” Gwyneth Walker’s song of devotion based on two 17th-century poems by Anne Bradstreet. Next came a breezy version of the Jamaican mento “The Banana Boat Song,” styled after the Tarriers’ folk rendition rather than Harry Belafonte’s shouted work song.

A four-piece rock ensemble joined the choir for the next two numbers, Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Seasons of Love” from “Rent.” It is to Sargent’s credit that the band included an electric drum kit (tastefully played by Scott Mundy). The volume is easier to regulate than with a traditional drum set, which often overwhelms singers’ voices.

The section of the concert devoted to vocal solos and small ensembles featured performances by seniors. Alyson Wall began with a sweetly delivered rendition of “Home” from “Beauty and the Beast.” Others included Jessica Ryugo (Michael Buble’s “Everything”), Lacy Williams (“For Good” from “Wicked”), Leann Zurmuhlen (“The Calculation” by Regina Spektor), Stephanie Pratt and Amy Willmont (the Beatles’ “In My Life”), Michael Kennedy (John Ondrasik’s “100 Years”) and a vocal quartet version of “The Pokemon Theme Song,” featuring Michael Burns, Josh Chapple, Austin Kebely and Tony Likovich.

All of the above were well-performed, but two soloists should be singled out for their exemplary talent. The petite powerhouse Ella Bowen possesses a striking voice and has a vivacious personality that emerges even when she’s surrounded by a choir. Her maturity as a performer is unusual for one so young.

The other standout is the amazing Alana Grossman, who starred in NPHS productions of “Bye Bye Birdie” and “The Sound of Music.” Grossman used her extraordinary talent to the max in “Girl in 14-G,” a number written by Jeanine Tesori for actress Kristen Chenowith that employs operatic coloratura, comedy and musical theater all in one. Grossman simply knocked it out of the park. After graduating, Alana will attend Northwestern University, where she will major in vocal performance and musical theater. We expect to see her on Broadway soon. She is that good.

The entire concert choir concluded the show with a set of popular numbers and show tunes, ending with the NPHS tradition of singing Raymond Hannisian’s “Movin’ On” while Sargent intoned the names of the departing seniors.

Although attachments are not unusual between students and teachers, there’s always something special about the relationship between “Sarge” and his students. When they sing, everyone smiles at him and he at them. Witness Ella Bowen’s heartfelt dedication of the ABBA tune “Thank You for the Music” to Sargent, as Bowen and Andre Faroni sang the duet directly to the beaming director, who was sitting in the front row.

The bond between Sarge and his “troops” is one of mutual friendship and respect, and it’s always heartwarming to see.