Crimson & Black takes on the competition

(Photo by Lyndsi Price) Members of Crimson & Black perform their dynamic show during at the Quad-State Show at Heelan High School where they claimed first place in their class, then first runner up overall. [Click to enlarge]

Since performing at the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce dinner in late January, the show choir has kept a busy schedule with the state contest and invitationals.

The show choir began the season competing in the State Show Choir Contest Feb. 2 at Spirit Lake High School, where the group earned three Division I ratings.

(Photo contributed)Members of Le Mars Community High School's Crimson & Black Show Choir stepped up their performance in the at the Quad State Show at Heelan High School Feb. 28, finishing first runner-up behind a 4A school from the Twin Cities area. There are 43 students in the choir, with a band of 11 and a crew of five. [Click to enlarge]

"Things went really well for us," Ewing said. "The group has earned Division I's since they began back in 1994. That's 16 years of Division I ratings."

"We always get complimented on our sound," said Ewing of the judges comments at the state competition. "One judge said they really appreciated our level of energy."

That energy starts early in the school year with auditions in September. rehearsals start the last week in October, and are held Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m through the second week in February. They add about eight, two-hour evening rehearsals in January and February.

(Photo contributed) Crimson and Black Show Choir members Katlyn Ewing and Carter Daniel strike a pose during the choir's performance at the Quad-State Show hosted by Heelan High School in Sioux City. Choreographer Shawn Eck worked with students in three days of intense training to put together this year's show. [Click to enlarge]

"It's a long season but it's so much fun to see the fruition of their efforts," Ewing said.

Crimson & Black took part in the Quad-State Show at Heelan High School in Sioux City on Feb. 28.

We gave two great performances," Ewing said.

Ellie Hemmingson performs [Click to enlarge]

At the end of the first round in the afternoon, Crimson & Black placed first in Class 3A, winning their division. They also had one of the top six scores of the entire day.

"That gave us a spot in the evening finals," Ewing said.

"That evening we stepped it up even more and ended up coming in first runner-up in the finals," he added.

The evening competition included all classes of schools, with the grand champion spot going to a 4A school from the suburbs of the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

It was a show before the hometown fans when Crimson & Black performed as part of the LCHS vocal concert March 3 in the middle school auditorium.

"That's always fun for the home crowd to see what we've been working on," Ewing said.

Then, at the Emmetsburg Invitational, the group brought home a third place finish in first round competition. There were seven schools in the Class 3A competition.

"The kids felt absolutely awesome about their performance and felt it was the best they've done up to this point," Ewing said. "I've always said if you give it your personal best, the group gives it their best, that's all we can hope for."

Crimson & Black will have one more competition March 21 in the Hinton Invitational. They will perform at 2:40 p.m. at the Hinton High School. The show is open to the public.

"It has just been an awesome year and a great show," Ewing said of the 2009 show choir. "I think we have great costumes, and we've really taken our performances to the next level."

"The past two years have been really good. We've been building and getting stronger each year," he added.

There are 43 singers, a band of 11 and a crew of five who assist with each performance.

"It's a demanding schedule. These kids are involved in a lot of other things as well," Ewing said.

For the last three years, choreographer Shawn Eck has worked with Crimson & Black singers with an intense three days of training.

Show choir members must not only be strong singers but have strong bodies as well.

"It's changed a lot," Ewing said of show choir performances through the years. "It has become so athletic."

Eck is a very sought-after choreographer, Ewing said, and his work includes being in charge of the halftime show at the Rose Bowl. He will also be re-doing the parade at Disney, Ewing added.

Music in the Crimson & Black show includes "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" (made popular by Phil Collins) followed by the Steve Winwood tune, "Higher Love."

The ballad, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" features soloists Nate Hettinger and Austin Roy. That's followed by the Queen tune "Don't Stop Me Now" which features Carter Daniels and Anthony Schimek and a dance move called "The Rocket."

The closing number "Love Is on Our Side" features Ellie Hemmingson and was originally recorded by the Frank Popp Ensemble.

Members of Crimson & Black are: Jennifer Bates, Danica Bird, Emily Brouwer, Mackenzie DeJong, Katelyn Ewing, Ellie Hemmingson, Megan Kinney, Kaitlin Lassen, Casey Leonard, Julia Maass, Morgan McMurray, McKenna Murphy, Rachel Parry, Kelsey Peyton, Breeanna Pierce, Nicole Plueger, Rachyl Rahn, Leandra Reiter, Michelle Sluiter, Nikki Sluiter, Sarah Strub, Kenzie Wells, Tiara Wentz, Ben Carpenter, Carter Daniels,

Justin Guy, Nate Held, Nate Hettinger, Nate Irwin, David King, Nick Manthe, Kris Ohrlund, Palani Permeswaran, Ethan Price, Ben Rahn, Zach Reed, Chris Reiter, Josh Rolling, Austin Roy, Michael Sauer, Anthony Schimek, Sam Schroeder and Nathan Young.

Members of the Crimson & Black Pit Band are Kim Ohrlund, trumpet; Nick Sauer, trumpet; Rebecca Ahlers, alto sax; Andrea Kelly, alto sax; Steph Young, bari sax; Sam Leonard, horn; Kristen Ahlers, horn; Catie Meis, keyboard; Hillary Haden, keyboard; Jess Kelly, set and instructor Nancy Ewing, piano.

Crew members are Jill Ahlers, Hannah Barrett, Domi Lempares, Liz Orris and Ben Schilmoeller.