Fort Atkinson High School was packed to the brim with performers, volunteers, students and other guests from across a four-state region as it hosted the “28th Annual Fort Showcase,” a competition for high school and middle school show choirs.
This year, 18 high school show choirs, including 15 mixed groups and three treble groups, and four middle school show choirs competed over the course of the two-day event, with middle school choirs participating Friday and high school choirs participating Saturday.
The event was hosted by the Fort Atkinson South High Street Singers, the Fort Atkinson Lexington Singers, and the Fort Atkinson Fourth Street Singers.
This year, according to information released by the School District of Fort Atkinson, show choirs arrived from Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana and Illinois, with each group consisting of singers/dancers, band members and crew.
Photos, unless otherwise indicated, taken by FAO photographer Kim McDarison, follow.
Eighteen competitive high school show choirs, an army of School District of Fort Atkinson volunteers, students, community and family members, and other guests fill the Fort Atkinson High School Commons Saturday. At approximately 2:45 p.m., a big screen allowed those outside of the PremierBank Gym to watch the Mayville High School “Cardinal Singers” perform on stage. Performers throughout the first portion of the day competed for placement among finalist. At competition’s end, the Cardinal Singers were named third runner up.
Trophies waiting to be awarded glitter from a table in the Fort Atkinson High School Commons.
School District of Fort Atkinson Pupil Services Administrative Assistant Laurie Gilson serves among volunteers seated in the entry of the high school commons area. Volunteers on Saturday checked people in and offered information to visitors and participants in the 28th Annual Fort Atkinson High School Show Choir Showcase.
Members of the Milton High School “Choralation” show choir gather Saturday afternoon for a snack after completing their performance. At competition’s end, the group was named fifth runner up.
Judges prepare to watch show choirs compete for placement as finalists during Saturday’s competition. The full list of judges included: Craig Engstrom, Troy Larson, Jamie McMahon, Dallas James Pitt, Peggy Strimple, and Justin Steger.
A sound technician works the boards in preparation of a performance by high school show choir “Silver Connection.” The group is from Monona Grove.
Members of the Monona Grove High School Silver Connection show choir gather back stage in advance of their performance.
Band members accompanying the Monona Grove High School Silver Connection show choir assemble backstage in advance of the group’s performance.
Aaron Athas, who has been serving during the Fort Atkinson Show Choir Showcase as its master of ceremonies since 2003, introduces the Monona Grove High School Silver Connection show choir as it arrives on stage.
Members of the Monona Grove High School Silver Connection show choir perform.
Members of the Monona Grove High School Silver Connection move across the stage.
Members of the Monona Grove High School Silver Connection show choir move in unison. The group was took eighth place in the Mixed Division Tier I Prelims.
Members of the Monona Grove High School Silver Connection show choir continue to perform. The group also was awarded third place in the Treble Division.
Move moves from the Monona Grove High School Silver Connection show choir.
Monona Grove High School School band members perform.
Bright costumes and high energy characterize moves made by members of the Monona Grove High School Silver Connection show choir.
Members of the audience show their support for the Monona Grove High School Silver Connection show choir.
A soloist takes center stage.
Audience members shine their lights in appreciation during a performance given by the Monona Grove High School Silver Connection show choir.
Monona Grove High School band members perform on stage as part of the Silver Connection show choir performance.
Following a costume change, Silver Connection continues its performance.
A Silver Connection soloist performs.
Silver Connection continues its performance.
The band plays on.
Silver Connection dancers perform on stage while the band plays from behind the stage.
Silver Connection fills the stage with sound and movement.
Audience members wait with anticipation for the next show choir performance.
Audience members find seats on the floor in front of the stage.
Members of the show choir, “Spotlighters,” from Craig High School, Janesville, wait for their turn to perform.
Neenah High School show choir supporters show their enthusiasm in between performances.
Members of the show choir, the Spotlighters, Janesville, advance to the stage.
The Janesville Craig High School Spotlighters perform. The group received tenth place in the Tier I Mixed Division Prelims.
The Janesville Craig High School Spotlighters perform.
The Janesville Craig High School Spotlighters fill the stage with sound and motion.
Performers offer choreographed moves.
The Janesville Craig High School Spotlighters glide across the stage.
Costuming adds dimension as the Janesville Craig High School Spotlighters perform.
Following a costume change, the Janesville Craig High School Spotlighters return to the stage.
The Janesville Craig High School Spotlighters continue their performance.
A soloist performs.
The Janesville Craig High School Spotlighters fill the PremierBank Gym with sound.
The Janesville Craig High School Spotlighters dance across the stage.
A member of the Janesville Craig High School Spotlighters show choir, along with choir and band members, strike their set after their performance.
Supporters from Neenah move to space in front of the stage in advance of a performance by the show choir “Vintage 2024.” The choir is composed of Neenah high school students.
Members of the Neenah High School show choir Vintage 2024 prepare to go on stage.
Neenah High School band members prepare to play is support of Vintage 2024.
Neenah High School show choir Vintage 2024 offer energetic moves.
Neenah High School show choir Vintage 2024 members perform. The group placed fourth in the Tier I Prelims Mixed Division.
Neenah High School show choir Vintage 2024 fills the full stage.
Neenah High School show choir Vintage 2024 captivates the audience with song.
Neenah High School show choir Vintage 2024 performs. At competition’s end, the group was named second runner up among finalists.
Male performers with the Neenah High School show choir Vintage 2024 dance and sing.
Following a costume change, the Neenah High School show choir Vintage 2024 performs.
The performance continues.
Energy is a highlight of the performance given by the Neenah High School show choir.
Fast paced movement dazzles the audience.
Members of the Neenah High School show choir Vintage 2024 remove their equipment in preparation for the next group’s performance.
Hosting the competition, and therefore, not competing, the Fort Atkinson High School South High Street Singers bring their equipment on stage in advance of their showcase performance.
Members of the Fort Atkinson High School South High Street Singers gather in advance of their performance.
Members of the Fort Atkinson High School South High Street Singers stand ready to perform.
Dressed as gingerbread men, members of the Fort Atkinson High School South High Street Singers prepare to go on stage.
Members of the Fort Atkinson High School South High Street Singers fill the stage with color, sound and dance.
The Fort Atkinson High School South High Street Singers captivate the audience with color and form.
A soloist performs.
A colorful dancer stands out from the crowd.
Members of the band accompanying the Fort Atkinson High School South High Street Singers perform.
Candy is a theme within the performance given by the Fort Atkinson High School South High Street Singers.
Performers fill the stage.
A variety of candy-shaped props add color during the performance.
Members of the Fort Atkinson High School South High Street Singers dance and sing in unison.
The performance continues.
Following a costume change, members of the Fort Atkinson High School South High Street Singers fill the stage.
Audience members applaud as the Fort Atkinson High School South High Street Singers complete their set.
A final crescendo.
Concluding their performance, members of the South High Street Singers exit the stage.
School District of Fort Atkinson volunteers and staff assemble awards on stage.
School District of Fort Atkinson Superintendent Rob Abbott and competition Master of Ceremonies Aaron Athas invite representatives from the competing bands to join them on stage for the presentation of participation awards and division trophies.
Chesterton High School Drifters receive the first place Treble Division trophy from School District of Fort Atkinson Superintendent Rob Abbott.
Members of the Mundelien High School show choir “Sound” receive the First Place Mixed Division Tier I trophy as presented by School District of Fort Atkinson Superintendent Rob Abbott.
Chesterton High School Drifters receive the overall prep division trophy. The award was added to an earlier won division trophy and a participation award in the form of a certificate.
Six photos above: The Fort Atkinson High School Lexington Singers command the stage during their showcase performance Saturday. The group hosted the 28th annual Fort Show Choir Showcase competition. As a host, the group performed, but did not compete.
Photos courtesy of Nikki Dingman.