Making the stage their own

Choreographer Christen Alexander works with the Nevada High School Soundsational Singers to prepare the group for competitions and to entertain local crowds. The group has brought home many trophies in the past and hopes to do so again this year.

By Colette Lefebvre-Davis

Nevada Daily Mail

Wes Morton is proud of his show choir work -- and that of his students, whose success under his tutelage has been remarkable. Since starting in 2000, Morton has seen his students soar both while in show choir and then onto college.

Members of the Nevada Soundsational Singers listen to blocking and technique instructions from choreographer Christen Alexander, during a workshop session conducted Wednesday at Nevada High School.

Nevada High School's show choir began in the late 1970s with then teacher Peggy Graves. The walls of the auditorium are plastered with portraits of the show choir's of days past, local favorites like Marci Mitchell are just a few of the alumni whose images adorn the walls.

The classroom holds trophies from years past, lots of prisms and glittering towers that are emblazoned with officiums.

Now the Soundsational Singers and Treble Effects are preparing for this year's show season.

They have been preparing since the summer, when many attended a three-day workshop with choreographer Christen Alexander.

A mixed choir, the Soundsational Singers are the cream of the crop of Nevada High School's singers. Treble Effects is a girls' choir, performing to new heights as well. The students need to learn three to seven songs that are to be performed in a 20-minute competition period. The singers are accompanied with a live pit band.

In addition to the well-known choir, Nevada High School also has a freshman concert choir and a 10th to 12th grade concert choir.

This year, the Treble Effects choir is pumped to perform under the theme of "Ladies on Broadway" and the Soundsational Singers will be performing the "Hard Rock Show."

"All summer long and even year long, I brainstorm with other directors and piece together what it is the choirs will be doing." said Morton.

Morton began his own singing career when he worked with a Chicago-based Opera company that performed all over the Midwest. But those days are over, and now Morton focuses on education and his students.

"The administration and parents' group are amazing. The parents provide water for the singers and pay for some of the hotels that we stay at during competition season." said Morton.

The singers have hired arrangers, their costumes are fashioned in Mississippi and their shoes come from Nevada.

"Local businesses have helped, Nevada hospital has helped us, Wal-Mart gave us a deal on the fabrics for the dresses and Verco gave us a discount on shoes. All together -- jewelry, shoes and clothes -- the cost for the costumes is $300," explained Morton.

The singers are extremely devoted, working on the program in morning and evening practices as well as in regular sectional rehearsals.

Choreographer Christen Alexander worked with the students on Wednesday afternoon -- hopping and singing, nicknaming and laughing. Alexander has worked with live Broadway shows and he is, according to Morton, in demand all over the United States.

"He is going to Rockbridge High School in Columbia, Mo., then next week he flies to West Virginia and then Wisconsin," said Morton.

Alexander worked with the students, who were tired but still dedicated.

The first competition of the school year is slated for January.