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'Trials to Triumph’ ignites show choir
Sound Attraction prepares for April 6 Dessert Cabaret
WILLIAMSBURG — A first-year director put together a show choir season that excited students as they performed in three competitions.
“We actually made it to the finals in our last one,” said sophomore Nolan Kent while waiting for practice to begin one evening in March.
Competition season is over, but Sound Attraction has another performance before the school year ends — the Dessert Cabaret April 6 at 1 and 6 p.m. at the Williamsburg High School Auditorium.
Kent, a tenor, has sung in choir since fifth grade, he said. He auditioned for show choir as a high school freshman “to have fun with my friends.”
Show choir is fun, said Cooper Bott, a sophomore. “I’m really into music,” the baritone said. “I like performing and dancing.”
Making the finals was pretty cool, Bott said. He especially enjoyed performing “Fire Under My Feet.” “That was one of my favorite songs.”
Junior Haley Koenighain, a mezzo soprano, also named “Fire Under My Feet” a season favorite. “The energy we all put into it … It looked very sharp on stage.”
Koenighain has been in choir since elementary school. Swing choir is more energetic compared to regular choir which requires singers to stand still. “I love just being in the environment,” she said.
“With show choir you have to learn to dance and sing at the same time,” said Koenighain. “You have to learn how to be confident in your own part,” she said, because parts are scattered as the dancers move and pair up, while in a traditional choir, sopranos, altos, tenors and basses are together in their own sections.
Show Choir Director Zach Ring is not only in his first year at Williamsburg, he’s in his first year teaching. He grew up in Coralville and attended Iowa City West High School and the University of Iowa.
“I was a little nervous,” Ring said about setting up a show choir program. “There was no plan. I was planning as soon as I got hired.”
This year’s show choir program is called Trials to Triumph, said Ring. It begins with pursuit of a goal or dream, continues through a fall and ends with triumph.
Tyler Hagy, the choir director at City High in Iowa City, pointed Ring to resources, the first-year teacher said, and Ring spent a lot of time listening to different songs to find the ones that fit the program.
But show choir isn’t music alone. Ring had to find a choreographer and set up choreography camp.
Grant Luther choreographed the show which took students three to four months to master.
“There are a lot of upbeat tunes,” said Ring. A slower ballad highlights the vocal talents of the students, including two of the five soloists — Jaisel Bott, Haven Nunnelley, Ribi Allison, Reagan McMenony and Simeon Armbrecht — featured during Trials and Triumph.
And as the season ends, Ring is optimistic about next year. Sound Attraction has a good mix of ninth through 12th graders. “[We have] a really good group planning to come back next year.
Haven Nunnelley sings with Sound Attractino show choir during a competition in Van Horne in February. (Photo by Jim Magdefrau)
Sound Attraction performs during a competition in Van Horne in February. (Photo by Jim Magdefrau)
Bridgette Ridenour and Molly Thomas practice with Williamsburg's Sound Attraction. (Winona Whitaker/Hometown Current)
Williamsburg show choir dances to “Fire Under My Feet.” From left are Brody Hawk, Kenzie Feldman, Jaisel Bott, Reagan McMenomy, Macey Kent, Eli Thomas and David Harvey. (Winona Whitaker/Hometown Current)
First-year director Zach Ring, left, director show choir students during a rehearsal this month. (Winona Whitaker/Hometown Current)
Taylor Feldman, Brody Hawk, Kenzie Feldman, Zoe Hulseberg, Nolan Kent and David Harvey perform a ballad. (Winona Whitaker/Hometown Current)
“This year was great,” said Ring. “I’m super excited to experience my first Dessert Cabaret.”
