You can find the choir under the lights at the annual Pops concert on May 16 and 17.
For weeks before the concert, performers worked not only on music but also the choreography.
“This year, we started learning the dances before the songs because they are a little bit harder this year,” junior Marrisa Smith said.
A few students are selected to turn the rhythm up and choreograph a dance routine for each choir group.
“I try to let the students take as much ownership as possible in this concert. I have student choreographers that design the choreography and teach it to their peers,” choir director Tyler Morris said.
Junior Olivia Prue convinced Morris to start rehearsing the choreography early, allowing students more time to practice.
“I wanted rehearsals to be split in half with choreography and vocals. This gave me an opportunity to make the choreography more challenging because it gave students more time to practice,” Prue said.
Singers are encouraged to practice – songs from Queen and Dua Lipa – and dance the night away.
“People think singing is just easy, and you get it done, but it actually takes a lot to memorize a bunch of songs, and for Pops, especially dancing and singing at the same time, it’s a little difficult sometimes,” Smith said.
For some, the choir is where students meet their closest friends and keep the party runnin’.
“To me, choir is a chance to not only enjoy making music and entertaining an audience but a chance to create deep friendships and bonds,” sophomore Lennon Williams said. “It is through choir that I have met and gotten close to some of my best friends, so I’d say that choir has had a pretty substantial impact on my life, especially when you factor in the way that choir has allowed me to further enjoy the music that I hear on the regular basis.”
They’re staying on the beat – you can count on that. They ain’t missing no steps.
“This year’s Pops is going to be so good,” Prue said. “The arts have had a lot of accomplishments this year with our musical and now our Pops. It’s not your average choir concert – it’s so much more fun with singing, dancing and costumes.”