Lincoln Public Schools students scaled musical mountains this winter at Standing Bear High School’s inaugural show choir contest.

Hundreds of students, parents and community members came to campus for The Summit competition. Teenagers from East, Lincoln High, Northeast, Southwest and Standing Bear took part in a contest that featured singing, dancing and instrument playing. Nineteen ensembles from 11 Nebraska schools performed in front of a packed auditorium throughout the day.

Standing Bear sophomores Addison and Graham are members of the school’s first show choir called The Renegades. Both have been excited to help lay the group’s foundation.

“I’m honored to be part of the inaugural season of The Renegades,” Graham said. “I feel like it’s a lot of pressure, but also a lot of fun, because nobody has expectations for your school yet. You don’t have a name yet, but you get to be the first to set that bar for your school.”

“I remember being in eighth grade and talking to my counselor about which school I was going to go to, and she was like, ‘If you go to Standing Bear, you’ll be able to pave the way for everyone,’” Addison said. “‘You’ll make traditions, you’ll make it a good place to be.’ I think that our show choir is a great place.”

Hunter Boe said that enthusiasm has made it a joy to direct the ensemble. Boe teaches vocal music at Standing Bear and is helping the group learn the activity together. Forty-nine of the 52 members had never participated in show choir prior to this year.

“This is a brand-new group of students,” Boe said. “There’s quite a learning curve, so I’ve been just so proud and blown away by their effort. They’ve improved so much from the start of the year.”

Other LPS directors also sang the praises of their students before they performed. Austin Reinke is directing Northeast’s two groups this year as a student teacher, and Andrew Jacobson has guided show choirs at Southwest for more than a decade. They said it was fulfilling to watch the Rockets and Silver Hawks put together their presentations.

“I enjoy the hard work and dedication that the students put into every rehearsal and performance,” Reinke said. “Show choir is one of the most athletic things a person can do, and that’s coming from an athlete’s perspective.”

“It is a daunting task and tough process which these students endure, so it’s really inspiring to see these students work and persevere when they get to the stage,” Jacobson said.

Reinke said students collect many life lessons from the activity. He said playing in the band for his high school’s show choir gave him skills that he now passes on to his Northeast performers.

“It taught me a lot about communication and adaptability,” Reinke said. “Show choir brings on a lot of traveling, so being able to communicate with people in new spaces is key to having a successful day.”

Boe began constructing Standing Bear’s “Make Lemonade” show last spring. After picking out songs to include in the show’s playlist, he contacted a musician who turned each tune into multi-part arrangements for the band and choir. He then obtained copyright licenses for each song before presenting the theme to students this summer.

Addison said she was initially surprised at how many details went into the show. Members of the show band learned how each note complemented the singers on stage, and the choir memorized song lyrics, choreography and vocal harmonies. They increased their confidence and aerobic endurance after dozens of practices.

“I think at first we thought that it was hard, but as time went on, we realized if we want to be in the place that we are now and we want to be great, then we have to keep pushing and pushing and pushing,” Addison said. “We’re never done.”

Addison said her mom’s high school show choir only included “jazz hands and cute costumes,” but many performances today involve props, extra risers and creative set design. Increased access to streaming services has also expanded the song options that directors can pursue. That evolution has led to a theater-style experience both on and off stage.

“It’s a whole show now,” Addison said. “I love it. We get to sing, we get to dance, some acting. It’s just really fun.”

Southwest is one of the schools that has embraced the new show choir style. Southwest Resonance, which won The Summit’s championship with “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” included lighted Christmas trees and a wrapped present box in the first-place performance. While the extra materials can help, Jacobson said energy and imagination from students are still the cornerstones of any winning effort.

“There might be more access to props, lighting and other effects, but that doesn’t mean ensembles are using them to be successful,” Jacobson said. “It’s all on the program’s creative vision for the season’s show!”

Graham said his first year of show choir has taught him the value of friendship. He is treasuring being able to climb musical mountains with his teammates every day.

“I think that The Renegades have become more of a family to me than anything else,” Graham said. “I think that if I were to take anything away from this, I would say that I love these people that are around me. I think that we’ve formed an amazing community here at Standing Bear.”

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Fifteen Standing Bear students stand and kneel on stage during a show choir performance. Members of Standing Bear's show choir band practice their music while show choir performers practice in front of them. The photo is taken from the back of the auditorium looking out at the seats. A Standing Bear student sings a solo while standing next to a lemonade business during a show choir performance. The lemonade stand features a pitcher, cups and lemons.

Musical Memories: Standing Bear hosts first show choir contest