Winter Sweets and Songs proves cool show
Above, the Center Stage Show Choir performs at the annual Winter Sweets and Songs concert.
January 21, 2015
Steve Chapman
The Cassville High School Show Choirs presented their annual Winter Sweets and Songs concert on Thursday, January 15, and Friday, January 16, at the FEMA event center. The concert, which was divided into two halves with a brief intermission in between, was attended by nearly 450 people over the two evenings. Audience members were treated to desserts, including cheesecake, fresh fruit and other sweets throughout the concert.
There were a total of 15 individual performances during the concert. Junior Brooke Cornell and senior Levi Pollreisz sang a slow, soulful version of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” accompanied by Allen Boston on the acoustic guitar.
Brooke said she got the idea to perform the song after seeing it performed by a group called The Civil Wars on You Tube. She then went to Levi with the idea, who said he was skeptical at first.
“Usually, when Brooke suggests things, I’m like, ‘Yeah, whatever,’” Levi said. “But after I listened to it, I loved it.”
One individual performance that was well received was the song “If Beauty Had a Face,” sung by senior Parker Skinner. Parker actually wrote the song over Christmas Break as a way dealing with a difficult time. “It’s just something that was my own,” Parker said of the song, “and it was something that could express what I felt at the time I wrote it.”
For junior Kiley Wolf, who sang “From This Valley” with Drake Thomas, “Rockin’ With the Rhythm” with Jena Hilburn, and “Love Says They Will” as a solo performance, the concert was a chance to do what she enjoys most, singing. “I just love singing,” she said. “I could sing all night.”
Another very popular individual number was Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock,” sung by Drake Thomas, who was accompanied by Stussy Stephenson on bass, Allen Boston on guitar, Parker Skinner on piano, and Grace Schell on flute.
Midway through the high-energy song, members of the choir started dancing across stage and soon they were joined by the music instructors, as well. Drake said he had only planned for some of the choir to dance, but was glad to see all the choir members get involved. “I told the seniors to do it,” he said, “but the dance captains pulled everyone on stage. I wasn’t expecting all of the choirs, but it was a great surprise.”
Drake also had a special shout-out for those who accompanied him during the song. “I would like to thank my whole band, but especially Grace,” he said. “She was nervous, but she killed it. She made the song.”
The first half of the concert was capped off with the all-girls NBA (No Boys Allowed) choir. Communications was the dominant theme of their performance, including a medley of songs including Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender” and the Marvellettes’s “Please Mr. Postman.” They also sang songs like “Facebook” and “Twitter,” which poked fun at the widespread obsession with social media.
The final performance of the concert was delivered by the Center Stage Show Choir, which sang five songs, including “The Middle” and the gospel-style “Second Chances.”
Perhaps the reason the concert was such a big success could best be summed up by a comment Drake made. “You just go out there and have a good time,” he said. “And if you’re having a good time, the audience is having a good time.”
Steve Chapman
The Cassville High School Show Choirs presented their annual Winter Sweets and Songs concert on Thursday, January 15, and Friday, January 16, at the FEMA event center. The concert, which was divided into two halves with a brief intermission in between, was attended by nearly 450 people over the two evenings. Audience members were treated to desserts, including cheesecake, fresh fruit and other sweets throughout the concert.
There were a total of 15 individual performances during the concert. Junior Brooke Cornell and senior Levi Pollreisz sang a slow, soulful version of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” accompanied by Allen Boston on the acoustic guitar.
Brooke said she got the idea to perform the song after seeing it performed by a group called The Civil Wars on You Tube. She then went to Levi with the idea, who said he was skeptical at first.
“Usually, when Brooke suggests things, I’m like, ‘Yeah, whatever,’” Levi said. “But after I listened to it, I loved it.”
One individual performance that was well received was the song “If Beauty Had a Face,” sung by senior Parker Skinner. Parker actually wrote the song over Christmas Break as a way dealing with a difficult time. “It’s just something that was my own,” Parker said of the song, “and it was something that could express what I felt at the time I wrote it.”
For junior Kiley Wolf, who sang “From This Valley” with Drake Thomas, “Rockin’ With the Rhythm” with Jena Hilburn, and “Love Says They Will” as a solo performance, the concert was a chance to do what she enjoys most, singing. “I just love singing,” she said. “I could sing all night.”
Another very popular individual number was Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock,” sung by Drake Thomas, who was accompanied by Stussy Stephenson on bass, Allen Boston on guitar, Parker Skinner on piano, and Grace Schell on flute.
Midway through the high-energy song, members of the choir started dancing across stage and soon they were joined by the music instructors, as well. Drake said he had only planned for some of the choir to dance, but was glad to see all the choir members get involved. “I told the seniors to do it,” he said, “but the dance captains pulled everyone on stage. I wasn’t expecting all of the choirs, but it was a great surprise.”
Drake also had a special shout-out for those who accompanied him during the song. “I would like to thank my whole band, but especially Grace,” he said. “She was nervous, but she killed it. She made the song.”
The first half of the concert was capped off with the all-girls NBA (No Boys Allowed) choir. Communications was the dominant theme of their performance, including a medley of songs including Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender” and the Marvellettes’s “Please Mr. Postman.” They also sang songs like “Facebook” and “Twitter,” which poked fun at the widespread obsession with social media.
The final performance of the concert was delivered by the Center Stage Show Choir, which sang five songs, including “The Middle” and the gospel-style “Second Chances.”
Perhaps the reason the concert was such a big success could best be summed up by a comment Drake made. “You just go out there and have a good time,” he said. “And if you’re having a good time, the audience is having a good time.”
