You are rushing around backstage when you hear, “You’re on in five!” Everybody gets to their places, ready to start the concert. As you step onto the stage, you feel the warmth of the bright lights on your face and hear the buzz of the audience. The music starts and you are filled with anticipation. You take a deep breath and sing, giving the audience the gift of the music you have been working on for months.
The Lewis Cass Choirs have been working hard this fall to prepare for their first concert of the 2024-2025 season. The year started off a bit rocky for various reasons, but with the help of our wonderful new director, Abby Guy, we are ready to kick off the concert season strong. The fall choir concert features all three of the junior high choirs and both of the high school choirs. We welcomed Mrs. Guy into our choir program at the beginning of this year, and we are so lucky to have her. She says, “I am so excited for our first concert, and as always, a little bit nervous. My goal is for our choirs to be overly prepared so being on the stage feels comfortable and fun. My hope is that all family and friends who attend enjoy the music. But more importantly, I hope our choirs are thrilled with their sound and performance.” Mrs. Guy is used to teaching elementary choirs and music classes, so this (moving to the jr/sr. high) was a big change for her. She said the biggest difference between organizing elementary and high school performances was, “Being able to sing and work up more challenging music. Elementary programs are really cute and fun – and you guys were always cute on stage no matter what happened. High school mistakes aren’t as cute, so there’s the challenge to always strive for excellence every time you take the stage. I love a good challenge!”
The junior high choirs, King’s Chorus (7th and 8th grade), King’s Chorale (7th and 8th grade advanced), and King’s Crescendos (6th grade), will open up the concert with Disney Dazzle which is a medley of many classic Disney songs. This song will feature soloists, Taylor Bridge, Kate Armstrong, Zoey Frey, Ahava Fitzhugh, Isabella Alford, Josea Welch, Kaitlynn Alspaugh, Spencer Favors, Sam Hull, Halle Woolf, Camdyn Smith, Brody Skiles, Lynnsey Ramer, and Chase Lobenthal. Next, King’s Chorus, the 7th and 8th-grade choir, will perform Butterflies by Kacey Musgraves, followed by A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman. This song will feature Esmerelda Sanchez-Aquino, Nick Shottler, and Gabriella Durbin as soloists. Then, King’s Crescendos, the 6th-grade choir, will sing Together by Anthony Kouri Williams and then Into The Unknown from Frozen II, featuring Ruby Eshelman, Molly Shively, Cora Hubner, and Brynlee Reed. Rounding out the junior high portion of the concert, King’s Chorale will sing You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban, followed by Better Place from Troll’s Band Together.
After a brief five-minute intermission, the high school choirs will begin their portion of the concert. King’s Charisma will open with Cover Me In Sunshine, arranged by Mac Huff, followed by Agnus Dei by Ruth Morris Gray. Then, King’s Collective, the high school advanced, will perform Secret For The Mad by Dodie. Next, Collective will sing Since I Fell For You by Buddy Johnson, featuring Alexis Alford and William Rose. Finally, they will sing Oh Happy Day from Sister Act 2. This song will feature soloists Heidi Frey, Brecken Smith, Maddy Willis, and Jenifer Romero. To close out the fall concert, both of the high school choirs will sing You Will Be Found from the hit musical, Dear Evan Hansen, featuring Raegan Mundy and Alyiah Reynoso.
Senior, William Rose, shares his thoughts on this year, “I think this year has been going rather well. Not only have I been improving, I believe all of the choirs have been improving and putting their best effort into making this year the best possible year it can be.” This year has provided us with many challenges in the choir department, but we have come out on top and we are ready to perform!
