Show-ing off

The show choirs were already looking for an additional funding source.

After inclement weather ruined their Saturday, the need is even greater.

Jay County High School’s show choirs will host a competition preview show at 7 p.m. Monday to help raise money to support their annual activities. (Admission is $5 and doors will open at 6:30 p.m.)

“What we’re doing is something we’ve not done before,” said choir director Susan Denney last week, noting that she had fewer choirs taking part in the Jay County Show Choir Spectacular that was scheduled for Saturday. (The competition was called off because of inclement weather.) “Because of that fact that we have less choirs, we’re trying to find ways to make up the money loss.”

With that expected decrease in revenue — Denney said the contest has brought in about $18,000 in previous years — she and her boosters met to discuss options. Boosters suggested putting on a show for the community.

“Then the parents and the community and the teenagers that are friends with our kids that can’t make it far away to all these competitions … come locally and see what we’re doing,” said Denney, adding that choir sponsors have been invited to the event. “I thought this might be a great idea for the community to see why we need so much money.”

The show choirs — co-ed Patriot edition and all-girl Just Treble — have annual expenses of about $35,000. That breaks down to about $11,000 for their choreographer, $6,000 for musical arrangement, $5,000 in contest entry fees, $4,000 to $5,000 in transportation, $3,500 in copyright fees and more than $2,000 in backdrops and miscellaneous expenses.

The contest has been the largest single fundraiser for the choirs in the past. This year, they have also brought in about $13,000 in sponsorships — that’s nearly double their average. And they work at the Indianapolis 500 each spring as a fundraiser as well.

Patriot Edition’s 2024 show features the songs “Just Another Day,” “Runaway,” “Turn the Page,” “Fixing Wonderland,” “Back Where I Belong” and “Home/Hold on Tight.” Soloists include Hannah Laux, Madison Hambrock, Ben Heath, Ashton Castillo, Kaegan Kahligh, Laila Waddell, Inara Sanderson, Austin Curtis, Logan Doll, Skyler Esparza, Jake Weitzel, Lilly Johnson and Aubrey Millspaugh.

“It’s kind of a darker, deeper message,” said Denney. “It’s about a girl that runs away from home and then, kind of like the prodigal son, comes back at the end. So it starts out dark and it turns a corner …”

On the lighter side is Just Treble’s show, which features a Barbie theme and bright pink outfits. Songs are “She’s a Lady/I’m Every Woman,” “Freeway of Love,” “Forget About the Boy,” “Rescue,” “Fasionista,” and “Headed for the Future/Nothing Can Stop Me Now” with soloists Jazilyn Braden, Alyssa Aker, Maddy Snow, Kenzie Huey, Kenzie Clayton, Waddell, Millspaugh and Hambrock.

Pictured is the Jay County show choir Just Treble. (Photo provided)

 

“Ironically, (choreographer) Damon (Brown) picked the theme prior to even the movie coming out,” said Denney.

The groups have a busy schedule beginning Jan. 27 at the Ball State Mid-America Show Choir Championship. They will also compete this year in the Carroll Classic (Feb. 10), DeKalb Choir Festival (Feb. 17), the Huntington North Midwest Showcase (Feb. 24), Bishop Luers Midwest Show Choir Invitational (March 2), the Columbia City Cup (March 9) and the Noblesville Show Choirs of Indiana Championships (March 16).

Just Treble and Patriot Edition have made it to the Indiana State School Music Association Small School Finals each of the last two years — the state contest was not held in 2020 or 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic — with the former finishing fifth in 2023 and the latter placing eighth.

Denney said she sees Monday’s performance as a chance to show off the skills of the show choir performers to the community.

“I’m a full believer that kids will thrive if they have something to connect to, if they have a sense of belonging, if they know that what they’re doing matters,” she said. “That’s why it’s worth it. That’s why it matters.”