The quiet hum of vocal warmups fills the hallway as you walk past students clutching their music in anticipation of their turn to perform. This is an all too familiar experience for members of the Lewis Cass Choirs. Each year, students choose to travel to Kokomo High School for the ISSMA District Solo and Ensemble contest, where they perform in front of judges, showcasing their months of preparation and dedication. From practicing their songs daily to perfecting their work with the accompanist, singers spend weeks hard at work on their pieces in hopes of getting a gold rating. While this can be scary for some performers, it is a great opportunity for students to gain confidence, challenge themselves, and represent their school.
On January 31, 2026, 35 members of the Lewis Cass Choirs made their way to Kokomo High School to participate in District Solo and Ensemble. The week prior presented many challenges for the students. School was cancelled on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, leading up to the competition, along with a two-hour delay on Thursday. When asked about how the snowstorm affected their preparation, director Abby Guy stated, “The nice thing about choir is your voice is always with you. I feel like everyone could continue rehearsing at home. The big challenge was finding time for students to rehearse with accompanists the week of the contest!” Four choir members, Sam Hull, Brecken Smith, Raegan Mundy, and Maddy Willis, took a barbershop quartet to the contest. They were greatly affected by the snowstorm, given that they were unable to practice with each other, which is a crucial element of barbershop singing. This could have been a setback for the group, but they persevered and earned a gold rating for their performance and will be heading to State at Perry Meridian High School on February 21.
The solos were equally as successful as the barbershop, Mrs. Guy stated, “I was SO pleased with our results!! 34 Gold Medals and 2 Silver Medals. This speaks to the hard work and dedication of our students.” With the number of students who compete each year, it makes it hard for each student to have one-on-one time with Mrs. Guy. Students will have the opportunity to meet with Mrs. Guy and review their score sheets and judges’ comments before the State contest. The level of competition is high at State, so each student must put in additional work to make sure their song is perfect. Lexi Alford, a senior soloist earning a gold rating, shared her expectations for State, “I think my hopes for my performance at state is to just be in the moment and perform to the best of my ability but also with that it’s my last year being able to participate, so I want to just have fun with my friends and make the most of the day.”
The students are headed to Perry Meridian bright and early on February 21, 2026, to compete their solos at state. Best of luck to the Lewis Cass Choir members!
