How can someone sing, dance and experience a relaxed environment all in one? They could join a show choir. And as it happens, McCallum High School is starting one. By definition, a show choir is a musical ensemble that combines choral singing with choreographed dance, often integrated into a narrative story or overarching theme. However, a show choir is often much more than that.
“[Show choir] is a good opportunity for students to sing and interact with the choir in a different way than they normally do in a choir class,” choir director Nathan Thompson said. “Usually in choir, we’re very regimented and it’s very formal. This is a little bit more informal and a different type of performance as well as a different way of using your voice.”
McCallum’s show choir will be a chance for students to experience a new type of choir that will provide an experience unlike any that already exists at McCallum. Due to the many activities already put on by the choir, like the fall concert, masterworks, pre-UIL concert, UIL and Cabaret, Thompson is unable to lead the choir, so he has passed on the leadership to seniors Mailyn Gil and Lia D’Arcy.
“[Mr. Thompson] let me prove that I truly wanted to take the lead,” Gil said. “I’m honored I can lead and hope that I can do a good job for those auditioning and who will soon be involved.”
For Gil, the show choir will give her leadership experience doing something choir kids don’t normally get to do.
“A more active role in picking music, learning music, learning choreography, and also creating opportunities for themselves to perform as well,” described Thompson.
For the other choir shows and concerts, Thompson typically does all of the above, but for the show choir, that responsibility is handed to students like Gil, which can be a chance for students to pick music they like.
“I really want to see us doing songs that are more popular because I know something that turns a lot of people off on coming to choir concerts is thinking that choral songs are boring and repetitive and all sound the same,” said junior Tegan Hahn.
Part of the reason students want to join a show choir at all is that they get to have more liberty in choosing the music.
“A lot of people are looking forward to it,” Hahn said. “I’m going to join the show choir because I really enjoy pop singing, and I think it will be a really fun use of my time. I also like that it’s mostly acapella and that the whole choir gets to be the instrument.”
The energy involved in a show choir is part of what makes it useful for the people who will be in it because it will allow them to experience choir in a new setting.
“I think there’s a really fun energy, and the combination of singing and dancing is good, in terms of getting the people who are singing a little bit more connected with how to use their voices while moving around,” said Thompson.
The show choir, while being a good way for students to expand their choir skills, is also just a good way to build community within the choir, especially since it will be student-led.
“[The choir] will be a community-building project as well as an experience for students to take leadership on projects we want to make happen,” said Gil.
Building the skills needed for a show choir will help the students joining it in other aspects of their lives, both inside and outside of the choir community.
“It becomes transferable to other things and other experiences as well,” Thompson said. “Any time students are out and about making music, interacting with each other, it’s a good thing.”
Although the show choir will be a new addition to the choir program this year, that doesn’t mean it won’t be successful.
“I know we can get a good show choir out of the amazing performers at McCallum,” Gil said.
The budding show choir will include popular music, which engages performers and audience alike, a community-building project for the choir kids, and a leadership opportunity for those who will take it.