Virtus™
In today’s English, virtue usually refers to the moral goodness that a person possesses. But virtue hasn’t always meant that. In ancient Greece, the word for virtue, arete, meant a special degree of excellence, especially in the fulfillment of one’s purpose or destiny. Renaissance Italy refined this sense of the word to identify a musician that is exceptionally skilled, a virtuoso. The Roman word for virtue, virtus, had a different shade of meaning. It referred to courage and valor in the pursuit of glory for their country.
Each of these definitions apply to the members of our top choral ensemble, Virtus™. They not only represent the best of musical ability at John Adams Academy, but also the pinnacle of virtue. With their courage, dedication, persistence, and giving natures, they embody what it means to be servant-leaders in our academy and the greater community.