2014 is shaping up to be an eventful year for the Olympic Heights Choral Department. With major accomplishments already under its belt this year, the department is off to a great start.  “We have a lot of potential this year,” sophomore Gianna Vittorini said. “I feel like I’m part of something big. It’s amazing how hard working everyone is.”

   On November 15, Soundsation, OH’s show choir, performed at District Solo and Ensemble hosted at Santaluces High School. The show choir rocked the stage with two fully choreographed numbers from their set of five songs that will be used for competition. Also, Harmonix – an up-and-coming, all-girls show choir – performed a choreographed number and ballad of their own. Both groups received top ratings of “superior” for their efforts.

   On November 28, Soundsation performed at the Sunrise Theatre for Performing Arts in Fort Pierce as the backup choir for famous country musicians Kenny Rogers and Linda Davis. This show was the professional debut for many members of the choir. “Everyone preformed well, and we even got a standing ovation at the end,” sophomore Addie Byerly said. “It was fantastic to get to preform with such a well-known artist.” Soundsation sang back up to arrangements of holiday classics, but with a little country flair. There was even an opportunity for Soundsation to sing one of their own a cappella tunes in front of the packed audience.

   Now, in December, rehearsals get kicked up a notch for choir members because the Winter Spectacular is swiftly approaching. The band and choral departments join forces to herald in the Christmas season on December 12 at 7pm in the OH auditorium. The audience will be entertained with a wide variety of musical numbers ranging from jazz to a cappella to traditional Christmas tunes. This event is sure to bring the house down and showcase all of the talented musicians from OH.

   “I’m actually very excited because it’s my first performance at school with Soundsation and I hope that a lot of people will come out to watch!” junior Tamara Fakoury said.

   “I have high expectations for the winter shows,” Byerly added. “Everyone is prepared to put on a spectacular performance.”

   The week following the winter Spectacular, Soundsation has yet another show. December 19 at 7pm is the annual Soundsation Alumni Concert in the OH auditorium. The audience might find a few old familiar faces up on stage that night because this is an opportunity for members of Soundsation from years past to sing with their high school choir again.

   The first semester might end on December 19, however, that does not mean OH singers are on winter break just yet. On December 29 chorus members get to drive up to Orlando to perform in Disney’s Candlelight processional. At two performances at Epcot, they will have the chance to sing with hundreds of other choral students from across the state and to be accompanied by Disney’s professional orchestra for bombastic arrangements of beloved Christmas songs.

   “Chorus is definitely keeping me busy this year!” senior member of Soundsation and Choral Department vice president Miranda Martin exclaims. “A lot of time out of my senior year is invested into chorus and hours of rehearsal, but that’s what has made my last year of high school worthwhile!”

   Mark your calendars, OH! There are plenty of opportunities to watch our Choral Department in action. The choral students have been toiling endlessly for these last few months, and they sure will be something not to miss.