School board recognizes Huntington North show choir, brass and crew at April 24 meeting
By Kenzie Gamlin | HCCSC Communications Intern
During the most recent school board meeting on April 24, Huntington North High School’s Varsity Singers, Viking Volume, Varsity Brass and Varsity Crew were invited to be recognized for displaying HCCSC‘s core value of High Expectations, High Achievement and Accountability. The members were grouped by Executive Secretary Cindy Gray and thanked and congratulated by Superintendent John Trout. Trout also gave a brief summary of the recipients’ achievements.
After being verbally recognized, Secondary Director of Education Chuck Brimbury and School Board President Matt Roth gave the individuals an official certificate in honor of their core value and took a picture with the winners to remember the moment.
HNHS show choirs Varsity Singers and Viking Volume put in many hours throughout the school year to create shows that make their audience smile and judges admire. The choirs have been available for students to join and participate in for many years, but what some may not recognize is the groups consist not only of the performers, but also the band that plays music for these singers and a crew that helps set up and tear down.
Varsity Singers had noteworthy competitions at Carroll, Churubusco, Columbia City, Findlay (Ohio) and Homestead High Schools. The group had some incredible moments this season, which include being named Overall Grand Champions at Churubusco, winning caption awards for Best Vocals and Best Choreography and also receiving Class B Grand Champion and second place overall at Columbia City. They also qualified for the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) State Finals and received third place at that event.
Seniors from Varsity Singers represented their group, which include Nathan Alleman, Brendan Caffee, Allison Church, Kimber Cobbs, Ethan Cutting, Tessa Drown, Rose Kirk, Faith Plasterer, Victoria Quickery, Ashton Raymond, Aiden Richardson, Carley Roth, Emma Shenefield, Claire Troyer and Samson Vickrey. Unfortunately, Alleman, Church, Cutting, Kirk, Plasterer, Quickery, Raymond, Richardson and Vickrey were unable to attend this meeting, but they will be sent their certificate and a congratulatory letter in the mail.
Viking Volume was also successful in competitions at Carroll, Churubusco, Columbia City, Findlay (Ohio) and Homestead High Schools. Viking Volume also had some exciting moments this season, such as when the group qualified for ISSMA State Finals and were named State Runner-Up for Class B, winning the overall Best Band Award. Along with Varsity Singers, Viking Volume was represented by the group’s seniors: Church, Alexis Miller, Moss Ott, Vann Underwood and Autumn Zeider. Unfortunately, Church and Miller were unable to attend the recognition ceremony but will be sent their certificate and a congratulatory letter in the mail.
Taking on both Varsity Singers and Viking Volume competitions, Varsity Brass added to the magic of the performance over and over again by playing live music for the performers' songs. Several times this year, the students finished in second place for the Best Band category, and missed winning by just a point. However, in a triumphant moment, they were awarded the overall Best Band prize at Columbia City as well as at the ISSMA State Finals for Viking Volume. Seniors from the band, Jared Cartwright, Takara Hethcote and Blaise Rupley, represented their achievements from this year at the school board meeting.
Finally, the crew that works on all the behind-the-scenes work to put on a great show, was recognized by the school board. Although the crew did not receive any overall awards this year, they were one of the hardest-working groups on the circuit, and the show choirs could not have produced the level of shows that they did without their contributions. They were key players for the Varsity Singers show, handing out props and collecting costumes. They also became very skilled at blowing up balloons for one of their major production numbers.
Early mornings and late evenings did not deter these students, and they shared in the success of Varsity Singers, Varsity Brass and Viking Volume this year. Hayden Eckert, Trinity LaFlower and Madalyn Watts represented the crew. Unfortunately, Watts was the only student available for the night, however Eckert and LaFlower will be sent a certificate and congratulatory letter in the mail. The entirety of the show choir cast expressed the core value of High Expectations, High Achievement and Accountability throughout this season, making it a season to be proud of.