This year, ADM High School will have its first-ever show choir. This venture has been in the works for several years now, as ADM’s middle school adopted a show choir three years ago in 2022.

As previously mentioned, ADM Middle School is gearing up for its fourth show choir season. Middle school choir director Ellie Roquet started it and continues to lead the show choir this year. 

“Our last three years, we’ve had probably 40 to 50 kids out, and this year is the biggest leap we’ve had, as I have 85 kids in show choir, which is awesome,” Roquet said. 

When asked about her thoughts on show choir moving to the high school, Roquet was clearly excited. 

“I think our current seniors would have had that first year of experimenting show choir at the middle school level, so they should be ready to go and excited to learn and hopefully compete at that next level. I know this year will be more experimental, and then hopefully next year they’ll start to really compete and get into that big show choir role.” 

Roquet isn’t the only director looking forward to this addition to the choir program, as high school director Daniel Novotney is also pumped. Being the one in charge of the show choir, Novotney’s taking on a huge task and had lots to say about it. 

“The group’s name is Uncharted; it follows middle school’s show choir being named Compass, and it’s all about Miss Roquet’s idea that we’re literally creating our own path, starting something new. So all of the music is related to charting our path and is about this theme of adventure and creating new things,” Novotney said.

When asked about what he was looking forward to in the show choir season, Novotney answered honestly. 

“I told people at meetings that I think it’s gonna help our choir program explode. I have 55 kids signed up, which is nuts, and Miss Roquet has 85 in middle school show choir, which are huge numbers.” Novotney said, “So for me, every year after this, high school show choir is just going to get bigger and bigger. I’m excited to have a lot of fun and for kids to know that show choir is just a lot of fun.”

Many students are also excited about having the opportunity to participate in high school show choir. Julia Logue, a senior at ADM who’s never done show choir before, shared her thoughts on the upcoming season. 

“I’m a little nervous because I know a lot of the freshmen have done it, and I haven’t, but since I’ve done the musical and plays before, and also just being in choir for so long, I’ll be able to get into it a little bit easier than somebody who might not have done things like that before. I’m very excited; it’ll be so fun.” 

Logue is also looking forward to the general process of creating the show choir. 

“I’m just excited to see the process and how we’re going to go about doing it. I know it’ll take a lot of teamwork with everybody involved, and there are a lot of us to put together. So I’m excited to see how it’ll all come together,” Logue said.

Dawson Foster, a freshman and one of the few boys signed up for show choir, also shared his feelings. 

“[Middle school show choir] was a lot of fun. It was cool to do it with all my friends, and the songs were upbeat. I also think it’ll be fun to do it with three other grades this year instead of just one.” 

When asked about the uneven boy-to-girl ratio, Foster gave his insight. 

“I wish more [boys] would do it, and I hope in future years more eventually will. Also, hopefully we won’t be too overpowered.”

Lastly, Ashlie Determan, a freshman at ADM who has been involved in middle school show choir for the last two years, discussed her thoughts. 

Determan said, “I’ve really enjoyed it. You learn a lot of dances, meet a lot of new people, and just build really close relationships.” 

Determan wanted to share some words for people who are interested but hesitant about joining show choir. 

“I would say that if you’re on the edge, just join it because it’s so fun and it’s a new experience. You do have to go to a decent amount of practices, it’s kinda like a sport, but it’s fun cause you’re just dancing and singing.