Boulder Creek High School is hosting 300 talented high school students from around the state n a show choir competition combining choral singing with choreographed dance in the first-annual “Showoff in the Desert.”
On Saturday, Feb. 25, participating high school show choirs will bring custom arranged popular music, choral vocals and quick-footed choreography (plus a lot of bling) to the stage. Each set runs between 10-20 minutes, and most performances involve a costume change and include a unique twist on familiar music.
“I love musical theater and have always loved to dance and sing. So when I found show choir, it was a way of combining all my passions with other people who love it as much as I do,” said Boulder Creek senior Mackenzie Lee. “I love being part of something as big as show choir where we can make a set that can really impact someone’s life, and execute the idea with singing and dancing. It’s not just performing something, it’s being part of an experience,” she said.
It’s an experience for the audience as well.
“The event is called a “showoff” this year because it’s our first year. But the vision is to grow this event to be a full competition called “Showdown in the Desert” by next year,” said Boulder Creek Choir Director Kirk Douglas. “We’ll have all the elements of a show choir competition, from judging to awards. But this year the judges are not ranking the participating choirs,” Douglas said.
His vision is to provide Arizona show choirs the experience that Boulder Creek has enjoyed in California and Massachusetts. “We’re heading to Burbank to compete with both of our show choirs the first weekend in March. The “Showoff in the Desert” gives us a chance to run the set beginning to end in front of an audience and to get the judges’ comments while there is still time to polish,” Douglas said.
The Arizona event is a chance to build community as well.
“Because most of the competitions we all attend are in California, there is not much connecting the major show choir hubs in Arizona. Instead of putting all our resources into building the California circuit, we should be building events like this to help build this community in our home state,” said Logan MacDonnald, Director at Willow Canyon High School in Surprise.
Five, top-knotch judges from Ohio, Indiana, Eastern Arizona and Phoenix will review, score and clinic with the students. Together they will judge the showmanship, vocals, technique and costumes of each set.
“I love working with youth and seeing them develop, grow, and become better than they were,” said Richard Lunt, Director of Fine Arts at Eastern Arizona College, who will join the judging panel.
Lunt says the impact show choir has on these teens goes beyond the stage. “Choir programs have the potential to be a place of safety and a place where students feel like a family unit.”
Shadow Ridge High School sophomore MaryJane Jertig agrees. “Without show choir I didn’t have a place to belong,” she said, adding that the team atmosphere gives her reasons to reach out and make new friends.
Tickets are $15 and on sale now at bcjagchoir.com/23showoff and performances will be split into two sessions.
While it’s a fundraiser for the Boulder Creek choir, organizers say this event will be a success even if it’s a break-even.
“This has been a goal of ours for a long time,” Douglas said. He’s been the choir director at Boulder Creek for 15 years and was the first to add show choir to the class offerings at the school. BCHS has two show choirs competing, Heart & Soul which is the soprano/alto show choir, and Broadway Bound which is a mixed intermediate show choir. Broadway Bound earned first place at their competition last year in Tantasqua, Massachusetts.
“I love that Arizona has so many wonderful show choirs,” said Valley Youth Theatre Producing Artistic Director, Bobb Cooper who will be a judge at the Showoff. “Even if these young people have no desire to pursue singing and dancing as a career path, the experience is incredibly valuable to help build self-esteem, confidence, teamwork and much more.”
Written By Valley Vibe Staff Writers
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Photo By Michele Celentano