Show choirs square off in Clash of the Sequins
The thing about show choir that appeals most to Naperville North High School senior Axel Hageman is the opportunity to temporarily ditch his identity and take on a new persona.
"I get to be the person I usually don't get to be. I get to be that person I've wanted to be. I get to be that rock star," he said.
Hundreds of students, some from as far away as Wisconsin, Kansas, Indiana and Missouri, will experience that feeling Saturday when Naperville North hosts a daylong competition for 21 performing high school show choir groups called Clash of the Sequins.
As hosts, North's two show choirs, the coed Entourage and the all-girls ensemble High Heeled Harmony, won't compete, but will show off their talents in exhibition numbers.
The Naperville school's groups recently traveled to Alabama and Iowa to compete, and will compete twice more this season after Saturday's Clash of the Sequins event.
Hageman is part of Entourage and has been involved with show choir since his freshman year.
"We do very well in our competitions," he said.
In Alabama, for example, High Heeled Harmony won first-place honors in its division, while Entourage won first place for vocals and choreography.
The emphasis is on competing against themselves rather than against their peers, Hageman said.
He said show choir also helps students develop strong bonds.
"We're all very close," he said.
The boxing theme that ties Clash of the Sequins together creates a playful atmosphere, he said.
"The awards are boxing gloves and belts that are covered in sequins. They're completely obnoxious."
Saturday's performances start at 7 a.m. and continue through 11 p.m., with an awards presentation at 11:30 p.m.
"The Naperville North High School field house is transformed into the Clash arena, complete with touring stage and state-of-the-art lighting and projection. Audiences will not know if they are at a high school or professional rock concert," said show director Nick Janssen, North's vocal music director.
"Clash is geared to be an event for the whole family with nonstop, quality entertainment, food, vendors and merchandise."
Janssen said a variety of musical styles will be performed.
"Show choir is a mix of contemporary and classic pop, rock, jazz and Broadway," he said.
A panel of eight judges evaluates each performance on vocals, instrumental performance, choreography, costuming and show design, Janssen said.
Carrie Bramlett, of the School of Performing Arts, is the show's production manager.
"This is our fourth year. It's gotten bigger and bigger each year. It's such a fun day. It's entertainment like no other," Bramlett said.