This past weekend, North hosted Center Stage, Columbus East’s show choir for their Preview Show. There are approximately 28 members on the choir, and they compete in the Small Mix division.

“This was the first year we had a confetti canon, which was really exciting,” junior Faith Briggs said.

Including special effects isn’t common in shows, according to junior Bethany Shelton.

“The audience doesn’t expect it. We also have light towers,” Shelton said.

Center Stage got a new director last year, Nicholas Brockamp, who was fresh out of college last year when he took over.

Before Brockamp took the position, the choir had never made finals in a competition; last year, however, they did once.

Brockamp also designed a unique riser setup for purpose of making the small choir look bigger.

East will be going to five competitions this year, including competing against North on March 9 at Anderson.

“We are hoping to make it to finals in a couple of competitions this year,” Shelton said. “For a choir that hasn’t made it to finals ever before [last year] and with having new members, that would be such an exciting, underdog move.”