Mark R. Madler
While rehearsing in a Broadway dance studio in New York City, the
Burbank High School show choirs received some visitors -- singers
from Broadway productions who thought a rival show was practicing.
Told they were hearing high school students, the singers were
"blown away," Burbank director Brett Carroll said.
"They couldn't believe it [was high school students]," Carroll
said.
Those Broadway professionals learned what the judges in the Fame
Show Choir America competition were to find out March 27 -- that the
Burbank school's In Sync and Impressions choirs are the tops.
In Sync left New York City as the grand champion of the
competition, a first for Burbank High. In the final competition
against five other schools, the 44-member In Sync group was voted No.
1 by seven of nine judges.
In Sync member Samantha Schwartz, 16, said the group was in shock
after being named the winners.
"This was our first year where we had a chance to win," Samantha
said. "We would have been happy with whatever we got, but to win
first was more than we expected."
Winning the competition has motivated a lot of the members and
might attract other students to join, said Jason Chang, vice
president of the group.
"In my four years with the group, it's been a roller coaster,"
said Jason, 17. "But this year we feel we've established a foundation
for years to come."
Impressions, the 40-member all-women group, was first runner-up in
the unisex division.
"They also got an award for best female sound," Carroll said. "And
they got an award for best horn section."
Being named the grand champions at a national show choir
competition will go a long way to boosting the reputation of not only
the school but also the state, Carroll said.
"California has not been well represented at a number of these
competitions," he said. "We are making a big name for California."
Winning a national cham- pionship raises the expectation that the
show choirs will be pursued for other competitions.
The choirs will perform later this month at the Southern
California Performance Choir Invitational in San Diego.
