Show Choir Pre-Competition Season

The Waukee High Schools Show choir ensembles, Spirit and Millenium have been off to a great start. In the heat of pre-competition season, the groups are working extra hard to prepare their show for their first audience in November. Each member of an ensemble has put in an extreme amount of dedication to their show to see positive results during competition season. But what most don’t know, is that this time is essential, and what makes the groups so successful come February. 

Groups have been rehearsing since summer. The JV group “Spirit” has been hard at work since their first choreography camp on July 17-18. The group spent two long days learning two songs in their show, then they came back August 5-6 to learn both their opener and costume change. The varsity ensemble Millenium spent 5, long grueling days learning their whole show August 7-11. After this, the ensembles started their weekly practices, beginning pre-competition season. The groups understand that this part of the season is crucial to make the show the best it can be. Millennium’s director, Mr. Dam said “The pre-comp season is vital to the success of the entire season. This is the part of the season where we set ourselves up to be competitive. We figure out who we are not only as a group, but how we want to move our audiences with our artistry.” 

Spirit and Millennium put in all they have at practice. Each rehearsal is action-packed and full of twists and turns to better the show. Junior Miles Early explains how this is his busiest time of the year, but also how he makes it through his 2-and-a-half-hour-long practice on Monday nights. “Mid-October is the most chaotic because it’s super busy with school, finals, extracurriculars, etc.. so it gets harder to stay present but that’s when you need to focus on the end goal. I make it through practice with water, and having a short memory to move on from mistakes made during rehearsal.” Early said. Sophomore Neelie Streit also shares how she makes it through Spirit Rehearsals, “To get through the long practices I try to just have fun with it and know that if we can put the work in now it will pay off later.” 

Everyone in Spirit and Millenium has heard their director say “Do the work” once, twice, or maybe fifty times. This message is simple but has a dramatic impact on each person who chooses to take the advice. Every person also interprets the phrase to help them do better as an individual. Colin Gach shares what it means to him. “To me, ‘do the work’ means that everyone is accountable in the group and everyone should do the work not only in rehearsals but individually to ensure the overall success of the group.” Outside of the weekly rehearsal, singers also take lessons with directors and practice choreography whenever they get the chance. Everybody knows they need to pull their weight to make the competition season successful! Pre-season may be busy, tiring, and a bit overwhelming. But all the blood sweat and tears are worth it come the success in competition.

Photo courtesy of WHS Show Choir