The auditorium stage is filled with students who are out of breath. Meeting twice a week for three hours, 4th Ave works tirelessly to practice, clean, and perfect their show. After learning their choreography in June, they must wait until January to finally perform it for competitions. It is this dedication that is needed for a successful season.
“For myself, I’ve been reviewing dance moves and vocals, and I try to remind people as much as I can about past things we’ve fixed,” Kaitlyn Fields ‘26 said.
Effort must be put into show choir inside and outside of practice. This means that, on top of the hours of practice each week, 4th Ave members must constantly think about what has been changed and what needs to be fixed.
“I’ve been watching the rehearsal videos pretty religiously. I’ve also got these special throat lozenges to clear out my vocal pipes,” Ben Haines ‘27 said.
The 4th Ave show this year is completely different from last year’s. 4th Ave’s theme, Masked Memories, has a dark vibe, with some happier moments towards the end. Instead of going for a typical show choir show, the directors went for a story show, one with a plot and characters.
“I think I’d describe our show as misunderstood. Our main antagonist is very misunderstood, and all she truly wants is a sense of community she wasn’t getting. I’ve never seen a show where their opening song was at a ball. I find it so fun and different, and I really love the style of it,” Fields said.
As she is in her 3rd year in show choir, Fields knows what to expect during competition season. Although the season is long and stressful, it is a great opportunity for people to come together.
“There have been our ups and downs, but I feel every season has that. But what’s important is that we continue to try hard at every rehearsal. I love competitions. I think they’re a great way to talk to more people and to see a bunch of groups with a dancing style you’ve never seen before,” Fields said.
For months, 4th Ave and Charisma have practiced in hopes of a victorious competition season. But the competition season is a large time commitment, taking up a big chunk of students’ winter.
“Show choir season is such a busy time of the year; it eliminates every Saturday you have, and sometimes, it sucks. But the things you get out of it are great, [such as] stronger connections. I feel pumped during competitions. I love performing, and it’s the whole reason why I do this. Even though I get pretty wiped out by the end of the day, the sleepy bus rides back really let me think about our day and how amazing we are,” Poi Borchardt ‘26 said.
The show choir competition season starts with Choirs for a Cause the weekend before 4th Ave’s first competition. This event features West High, City High, and Liberty coming together to support a different cause each year. The event spreads awareness while also putting on a fun show.
“Choirs for a Cause is an event held to show support for show choir and to raise money for them. It’s an amazing chance to see other show choirs in your area and get a chance to perform on a stage before the competition season begins. It’s important because, one, you’re raising money for the choirs, and two, you get to perform on a stage that’s not your own before competitions,” Fields said.
4th Ave had its first competition last week, attending Muscatine and placing 4th. But their next competition will be Charisma’s first one. This competition will have eight varsity groups with only six spots for finals.
“For me, [the first competition] was a little worrisome. I had SEIBA Honor Band auditions that same day, and I was totally terrified I wouldn’t make it to the competition on time, and I didn’t get to experience that first comp feeling. But performance-wise, I felt great even with our mishap. At the end I was so ready to get into bed,” Borchardt said.
The next competition will be at Linn-Mar, and it is a hard competition, featuring several Cedar Rapids schools, famous for having great show choirs.
“I’m totally pumped [for the next competition] because Linn-Mar is hosting it, and they’re like a top show choir school. I haven’t been to this comp since freshman year, so I’m excited to see the memories I’ll build on this year and all the top groups that’ll be there! [But I’m stressed about] not making finals. Finals performance is what really fuels me and not making finals feels like losing a tournament and not even getting a chance,” Borchardt said.
Despite being a competition, show choir competitions are uniquely supportive, encouraging show choir members to watch as many shows as possible and cheer on the competitors.
“You sort of lose interest in thinking about the other groups competitively. You can do that after you perform and assess whether you did your best. I like getting to interact with people from other groups who I’ve never met,” Haines said.
Competition season is more than just a chance to perform. It’s a way to connect with friends and people who are less familiar.
“I love the fact that you spend so much time with people. Whether that be your friends, people you just met, your own group, or just watching groups. It has a great sense of community, and it’s so fun. I also love performing, so I love that I get to share what I love with other people,” Fields said.
Still, there are obviously some parts of the competition season that may cause stress.
“The thing that stresses me out about competitions is when you know you didn’t do your best when you could’ve and that you might lose. That’s why it’s good to go full out,” Haines said.
Despite the uncertainty about what the upcoming season will be like, both 4th Ave and Charisma have things to look forward to.
“I’m weirdly looking forward to the bus rides. I hate buses usually, but it’s a great space to be in before and after a comp. I’m curious about the next comp. Last year this one was cancelled, so it’ll be interesting to perform in a new environment,” Haines said.
After the long build-up to the competition season, it is satisfying to finally start it.
“Show choir is extremely fun, and I think if you’re interested in singing or dancing, you should give it a try. I’ve met some of my best friends through show choir and music, and everyone should get that chance,” Fields said.
