Featuring “legendary” classic songs, this year’s pop show will debut tonight for teachers and Thursday and Friday for students and community members. Each year, choir trades classic choral pieces for more familiar, fun pop songs. This year’s theme is “Legends,” which means the songs are older but more recognizable for parents in the audience.
“We’re singing ‘Thriller,’ ‘Dog Days Are Over,’ (and) ‘Somebody to Love,’” senior Zander Leary said. “It’s all either recent or classic songs.”
Other classic songs include “Come Sail Away” by Styx, “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers, “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, and “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes. Varsity Treble is also doing a Beach Boys medley, which will feature all sorts of songs by the 1960s pop group.
In addition to all of this, the tradition of singing “Lonesome Road” by James Taylor is being continued. The song is dedicated to graduating seniors and choir alumni every year.
“Alumni are invited up and it sort of features the seniors because they’re sitting in the front,” choir director Cathy Koziatek said. “They’re always crying, so that’s a really special thing that they look forward to every year.”
A favorite among some choir members this year is “Thriller” by Michael Jackson.
“My favorite song is ‘Thriller’ because the choreo is really good,” sophomore Kendell Vaughn said. “Ashton Franquiz is choreographing it and she’s in Majestics and she’s really good.”
This year in particular has been more hectic for the choir department than years’ past.
“We lost a week—our UIL competition was a week later than it usually is,” Koziatek said. “So normally we have three weeks and this year we have two weeks to prepare.”
For the past two weeks, choir has been rehearsing everyday in class, and this week choir students have practiced every day after school.
“We have been taking Monday’s after school to work choreo and work on our notes for the songs,” Leary said.
Tickets can be bought online here for the showtimes at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday night.
“The students are really excited and motivated so they’re going to do well,” Koziatek said.
