As the school year comes to a close, Berlin’s Sound Wave show choir is preparing for its biggest performance of the season. The finale concert, set for Wednesday, May 27, will feature new songs, student choreography, solo performances, and returning alumni in what director Abbe Lane describes as an energetic and memorable show.
“Audiences can expect a lot of fun energy. The song selections this year are fun, upbeat, and catchy,” Lane said.
Unlike earlier performances, the finale concert will showcase several new additions. Lane explained that Sound Wave has added six new songs, along with three more from Encore, giving audiences a much longer performance than they have seen throughout the year.
“This show is way longer than the other performances from Sound Wave this year; they are not songs that anyone has heard from either of the groups this year,” Lane said.
Students have also played a major role in shaping the concert itself. According to Lane, members help select songs and choreograph dances, allowing them to take charge of the performance.
“For the most part, the students help me pick songs,” Lane said. “I want them to take ownership of their work.”
For senior Becca Bartol, the concert carries extra meaning as it marks the end of her time with the club.
“It’s one of my favorite events every year,” Bartol shared. “This one is extra special to me because it’s my last performance with this group of people.”
Beyond performing, Bartol believes show choir has had a major impact on her high school experience by giving her confidence and a strong sense of belonging.
“It’s given me a great community of friends I’ve gotten closer to,” Bartol said.
One tradition returning this year is the alumni performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” where former members join current students on stage during the concert. Bartol noted that the moment is one she looks forward to most.
“I’m excited to sing ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water,’ it’s a tradition for all the Berlin Sound Wave alumni to come up and sing with us,” Bartol said.
Freshman Arcenia Morales emphasized the amount of preparation that happens behind the scenes leading up to the performance. As rehearsals continue, practices become longer and more precise.
“Something someone might not notice coming into a performance like this one is all of the time and attention put into little details. Something as simple as a facial expression or a step to the right can change the performance,” Morales said.
Despite the challenges of coordinating rehearsals and learning new material in a short amount of time, Lane believes the group has continued to grow together throughout the season.
“It is also hard for us to learn so many new songs in a short amount of time, but they are always up to the challenge, “Lane said.
