Lake County Gazette

Mundelein High School’s Show Choir is accumulating numerous awards this competition season, achievements that are well-earned according to MHS Choir Director Corey Thompson.

“The kids have come in very willing to work and that has paid off for them,” Thompson said.

On Feb. 15, at the Great River Invitational at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, IA, the MHS Co-ed Prep Show Choir, Reverb, finished as First Runner-Up in the Prep Division. Noise was first runner-up for Best Band and Sound, the MHS Varsity Show Choir, was Fourth Runner-Up overall.

A week earlier on Feb. 8 in Ft. Atkinson, WI, Sound won awards for Best Choreography, Best Vocals and Overall Grand Champion. It was the second time in three years the group was named Grand Champions in Ft. Atkinson. Additionally, MHS senior Alex Benassi was named Best Male Soloist Within a Show.

Reverb was named Overall Prep Division Champion at the Fort Atkinson Showcase. This achievement is notable considering that 34 of Reverb’s 49 members are new to show choir and this was only their second competition of the season. As Prep Division Champion, they had the honor of performing in exhibition during the evening finals round.

Sound consists of 51 singers and dancers along with 26 members in Noise, the MHS Show Choir Band directed by Andy Sturgeon.

Year after year, MHS’s Show Choir delivers strong performances during competition seasons. Thompson attributes this success to hard work more than talent.

“It’s important we teach kids about having a good work ethic,” she said. “We like to say we teach more than choir at MHS. We teach things like working toward a goal, accountability and discipline. ”

While they don’t win every competition, they consistently put themselves in position for awards by giving their best effort. Iowa schools have students in show choirs starting from middle school which raises the level of competition.

“The competition at the Great River Invitational had a very deep field and it was exciting for our students to face some very good competition. They rose to the occasion,” Thompson added.

The show choirs will conclude their competition season at “The Main Event” in Western Dubuque, IA over the weekend of March 1-2.

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