Meet the Choirs at performing arts center

Nevada Daily Mail

"This is by far the largest performing arts center they go to. It's such a beautiful venue," Wes Morton, Nevada High School show choir director, said of the Ella Maxwell Performing Arts Center.

"They love it. They feel like they are on Broadway," he said.

Morton, who has been choir director at NHS for 15 years, said he has 110 performers between the Soundsational Singers and the Treble Effects. Adding the pit band and others there are about 120 people involved. When they travel, they take three buses and a large truck to haul the costumes, backgrounds and sets.

"It's exciting. They all want to be a part of it," he said.

This year the Treble Effects, which is an all girls choir with about 50 members, is performing an airline stewardess show.

The Soundsational Singers, a mixed choir with 60 members, is performing an adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland."

Morton said they have reworked the story to use popular songs of today.

Both choirs rehearse daily during their classes and then have a formal rehearsal on Thursday nights.

Morton said he has dance captains and vocal captains who take time outside of school to oversee those parts of the performance.

This week he said they are busy preparing for Meet the Choirs, at 6:30 Thursday night when each performer will be introduced as they take their place on the risers, as well as getting ready for their first show choir competition of the year.

"This Saturday we compete in the biggest contest we will go to in Columbia. We leave at 4 a.m. and if we make the finals we will be back about 4 a.m.," he said.

Morton said he finds the fine arts and sports programs support each other.

"The entire school system is great," he said.

The high school principal and the superintendent are both supportive of the arts programs, and that makes a big difference, he said.

While the show choirs compete against other choirs in contests, it is not just about competition. The choirs help students to prepare for life.

He said that he sees each year where being involved in the show choirs changes a student who participates for all four years in high school.

"I've seen shy, timid kids who by the end of the first year have gained self confidence. If they go the entire four years they end up the school leaders. Being on stage and performing has done that," he said.

Each year the choirs host a show choir contest that among other things raises money for Relay for Life.

People vote for their favorite choir in the contest with money and that goes to Relay for Life.

"The last several years that has raised about $1,000 for Relay for Life, he said.

This year the show choir contest will be held Feb. 15, and this year there will be 37 choirs performing in two venues -- the old auditorium and Ella Maxwell Performing Arts Center.

"We're bringing back the finals this year," he said.

The first choir is set to perform at 7:30 a.m., with the finals starting at 5:30 p.m.