ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- For the first time since the start of the pandemic, WinterSongs was held in person to support people in abusive relationships.

Each year Albemarle County, Charlottesville City, and Louisa County schools hold an annual concert that raises money for people facing domestic violence. 

Ellie Weikle, Monticello High School choir director, shares what song she chose for her girls to sing and how it opened up conversations in her class.

“King of Anything by Sarah Bareilles is just such a powerful song. It’s especially about, you know, telling someone ‘I have power, I can speak for myself, thank you very much. You told you you’re king of anything?’ You know and I thought it was important to share that with my students and we had a discussion before coming to WinterSongs about what does it mean to speak up for yourself,” she said.

Representatives from the Shelter for Help and Emergency, or SHE, visited each choir before the concert to bring awareness and share warning signs of domestic violence. This includes data showing that one in three women will be the victims of some form of relationship violence during their life.

Since starting this event the schools have been able to raise more than $30,000 for SHE.