East Show Choir Places First Runner-Up
January 22, 2018
When East and North show choirs came together on Friday night, the atmosphere was not one of fierce competition that many have become accustomed to surrounding Columbus’ most famous rivalry. Instead, East’s auditorium hosted a night of cross-town support through the Show Choir Community Preview Show.
Hosted by East’s new choir director, Nick Brockamp, and North’s director, Alexander Baker, the event featured abbreviated versions of shows from Center Stage, Debuteens and Music Men and North Stars show choirs. The choirs sang and danced to upbeat songs like “Hand Clap” by Fitz and The Tantrums and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson.
East’s Center Stage show choir experienced changes in their sound and style this year with the arrival of Brockamp, but new genres of music were not the only new idea introduced.
“Mr. Brockamp really doesn’t understand the rivalry between the two schools so he was like, ‘I would rather have us work together as a team and be unified and support each other rather than tear each other down’,” senior Heather Langevin said of the collaboration between East and North.
The idea to unify with their crosstown rivals was wildly supported by Center Stage, and the Preview Show proved an effective way for both schools to gain support and awareness for their programs.
Momentum from the event propelled Center Stage through a busy weekend at the Lebanon Charisma Invitational on Saturday. The group won the First Runner Up, People’s Choice and Best Crew awards, and their supporting band, Funk City, which is comprised of members from East’s band program, won the Best Band award.
“I’m really proud of us. We actually finally figured out how to work together and work as a team,” Langevin said.
