By Mark Ambrogi
As the show choir competition season is about to commence, Carmel High School junior Hannah Paul is confident the choirs are prepared.
“There’s always more preparation we can do. We can always keep improving and we strive for that,” Paul said. “We’ve been working hard in the classroom, after school rehearsals and the students working hard on our own and having our own rehearsals outside of class. So I think we’ll definitely be ready.”
Paul, who was with the Accents, the all-female advanced choir last school year, is a member of the Ambassadors, the mixed advanced show choir this year.
Kathrine Kouns, director of the CHS choirs, said the Ambassadors and Accents have each prepared a set of music, complete with songs, dances and exciting costumes.
“The Accents will take off into the wilderness to tackle the great outdoors with a fun set about girls going glamping,” Kouns said. “The Ambassadors have a big surprise in store with their set, but we promise it will be a showstopper.”
Both groups will compete at Center Grove High School Feb. 18, Glenwood High School in Chatham, Ill., March 3-5 and at Wheaton (lll.) Warrenville South High School March 10-12. The New Edition, the CHS mixed intermediate show choir, also will compete at Center Grove.
Paul said the Ambassadors are keeping their performance under wraps.
“We do want to keep an element of surprise,” Paul said. “We can’t talk about it until it’s performed, but I’m really excited about it. Our shows have a strong message that we are trying to convey to the audience. There are a lot of people in Ambassadors who express the story differently through the way that they sing or dance or the expression they have on their faces. The message that we’re sending is applicable to everyone. I think it will be enjoyable for all ages and all sorts of people.”
Paul said she looks forward to this more hectic time of the year.
“It really gets me revved up,” she said.
The show choirs will share their performances with area fans with the annual Evening with the Ambassadors & Accents at 7 p.m. March 25 in at the CHS auditorium. Tickets are on sale at ticketracker.com.
