Singing for a Cure: Remembering Susan Aronchick at the 10th Annual ALS Concert

On April 7th at 7 PM, the Haverford community gathered in Marshall Auditorium for a concert. This was not a standard college production, although it did feature performances from all six Bi-Co acapella groups. The Friday night concert, organized by Haverford College Field Hockey coach Jackie Cox, was assembled to commemorate the life of her mother, Susan Aronchick.

Cox opened the night by playing a recording of her mother singing a Roberta Flack song. She explained that Aronchick passed away due to complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no current cure. Cox sought to honor her mother, a lifelong singer and musician, by bringing ALS awareness to the Haverford community via the vibrant acapella scene on campus.

Next onstage was Cox’s father, Craig Aronchick. His tribute to his wife included an acknowledgement of his personal lack of musical talent and a testament to the power of hope. “God has blessed us all with the ability to hope,” he said.

Aronchick’s words mirrored those of his daughter’s: “When my mom was diagnosed with ALS, she held onto hope that there would be a cure or a way to halt the progression before the disease could take her.”

JP Dunphy, an Aronchick family friend, opened the show with a lively rendition of “What’d I Miss” from the Hamilton musical soundtrack. He made several appearances throughout the show, performing a duet with Cox’s sister Samantha Aronchick and concluding with the uplifting “You Will Be Found” from the musical Dear Evan Hansen.

Each of Haverford College’s acapella groups made an appearance at the event. Notable moments included a passionate performance of Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors” by the Humtones, a finely-tuned rendition of the Octet melody “The Field” from the Looney Tunes, and a charming version of the Beatles classic “Norwegian Wood” from the S-Chords.

Another acapella group included in the lineup was The Baldwin B-Flats, consisting of Baldwin High School students. They sang Laufey’s “Dreamer” and “When the Chips are Down,” a song from the Broadway musical Hadestown.

The latter portion of the concert featured performances by Aronchick family members. Cox and her brother Bryan Aronchick performed a moving version of Creed’s “Sacrifice.” Jake Aronchick, the youngest Aronchick sibling, played the cello in performances of the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” Vivaldi’s “Winter” from “The Four Seasons,” and Squire’s “Tarantella.” He was accompanied by violinists Madison Day and Michal Juzwiak for the first two songs and pianist Bob Hermany for the third. Tears welled in the eyes of spectators and performers alike as Aronchick played the final triumphant notes of “Tarantella,” a song he used to rehearse with his mother.

2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the Haverford ALS concert. A new addition to this year’s event was a bake sale, organized by field hockey senior Zoey Despines. Cox expressed her gratitude for her team, who helped organize the event and promote it on social media. Another way Haverford Field Hockey stays involved with ALS awareness is volunteering at the annual ALS Awareness Run/Walk, which will take place at 12 PM on Sunday, April 27th.

Cox encouraged interested individuals to participate in ALS awareness in any way possible, either by attending events or donating. This year’s concert raised over $15,000 for the ALS Mid-Atlantic Region, an organization that funds curative research and provides resources and support to those diagnosed with the disease. 

Cox believes that anything can help. “Every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS,” she said. “Small events like the concert can help bring more awareness to the disease and bring us one step closer to a cure.”