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Show choir takes top honors in Branson contest
By Ralph Pokorny
Nevada Daily Mail
The Nevada High Soundsational Singers took part in a show choir contest April 15 and 16 in Branson and came back to town with a big problem.
To be exact a 5'10" trophy for winning the grand championship at the Branson Cup contest over 12 other show choirs from all over the country.
The trophy is to large to fit in any of the schools trophy cases, Wes Morton, Soundsational Singers director, said. It is currently on display in the office.
"I'm so impressed with these kids. They represented the entire town and school district very well," he said
To win the contest the Soundsational Singers had to beat the two-time defending champion choir from Eau Claire, Wis., as well as choirs from places like Jenks, Okla. and Colorado Springs, Colo.
"We gave them an upset," Morton said.
Winning a contest like this gives the performers a lot of visibility that can benefit them in the future.
Several past members of the Attache from Clinton High School, Clinton, Miss., have become professionals, with two former members performing with the Dixie Chicks and two others with 98 Degrees, he said.
The Attache recently won the contest in Orlando, Fla., and has also won there in previous years.
This invitation-only contest is one of three held around the country in Branson, Orlando and Los Angeles by Fame Events, for a select group of show choirs that have first had to win a qualifying contest.
Morton said that the Nevada choir won the contest at Northwest Missouri State to qualify.
"This brings our program to the next level," he said.
"This is the result of a lot hard work by the kids. They have put in a lot of extra practices to reach this level and had a lot of support from their parents and the school administration," he said.
"It takes 35 kids giving 110-percent dedication to do this," Morton said.
In fact after they found out Friday night that they had qualified for the finals on Saturday, he said that instead of using their time to enjoy some of the recreational activities in Branson, they wanted to have an extra two-hour practice and again on Saturday morning to get ready for the finals at the Tri Lakes Center, which is the old Mel Tillis Theatre.
"They could taste victory," he said.
The choir performed second during the preliminaries on Friday and had to wait until 6 p.m. before they knew if they made the cut for the Saturday championship round.
On Saturday they were the final choir to perform.
"That's a nice spot," Morton said.
In addition to the grand championship trophy the choir brought home trophies for best vocals, best choreography, best male soloist and one for making the top six choirs.
Joe Beeman, who will be majoring in music at the University of Missouri-Columbia next year, was selected as best male soloist.
"Joe has been the best male soloist at each contest this year," Morton said.
The other eight seniors, although not majoring in music, plan to have music as a part of their college experience, he said.
"You can see the passion for music in their eyes," he said.
The entire show choir for Nevada actually consists of more than 50 students, which includes all of the crew and pit band that makes a show of this caliber possible.
"We were fortunate to have Chad Alexander as our choreographer this year. He has a desire to bring highly competitive show choirs into the Midwest," he said.
Morton said that Alexander, who was hired by the R-5 district through Fame, would be back next year.
"The parents are wonderful. They help raise most of the money to cover the cost of costumes and in the case of the Branson trip they paid for the rooms. Many of them come on the road to watch their kids perform, help with costumes if needed as well as hold hands while waiting for the announcement of the winners," he said.
The win at Branson topped an overall successful year for the choir.
"We came home with 15 trophies this year, which is just incredible," he said.
In addition to winning at Maryville and Branson the Soundsational Singers also placed first at Pleasant Hill.
During the 2003-'04 school year the choir won two trophies and the year before only one.
To remain at this level next year will require more work with more complex music and costumes.
"That is expected at this level," he said.
It also means more money to meet those expectations.
With the school strapped for money the choir will need to do more fund-raising to meet their expenses.
That will mean more car washes, garage sales and other fund-raising by the parents association, he said.
Although the contest in Branson ended the choir's competitive season there will be one more chance to hear this year's Soundsational Singers perform on May 9, during the annual High School Music Festival.
"They were a little teary eyed after it was all over. They wanted it to go on longer," Morton said.