Andover has a show choir taking its dancing and singing to a national competition.
Nothin’ But Treble, the all-girl show choir at Andover High School is bound for Chicago next month after a second place finish at the recent FAME preliminary competition in New York City, held March 7 to 10.
Show Choir Director Mark Mercer said his team is thrilled with its result. A few tweaks, based on judge’s comments, are being worked out and the group will be in Chicago from April 25 to 28 for the FAME Events National Show Choir Competition Final.
“We’re exhausted, but happy,” he said.
Three show choirs from Andover went to the preliminaries in New York and each finished in the top six or higher. The Spotlight Chamber Choir, the mixed gender From Start to Finish Show Choir, and the all-female Nothin’ But Treble Show Choir all competed and earned trophies at this international competition with show choirs from around the world. Four foot high trophies given to the performers are at Andover High, according to a parent.
Mercer said there are 32 girls in the all-girl show choir and another 16 students help on the technical side of the show. A total of 48 students could be Chicago-bound although fundraising plans to help with travel costs are just beginning.
The Nothin’ But Treble group uses an airplane- flying scene in its signature performance. Half of the girls are airplane passengers and the other half are crew members. They are flying the make believe “Mercer Airlines” and their music is connected to flying.
“We really got a lot of comments about our creativity from the judges,” Mercer said.
It’s the second time this year that Andover High show choirs have competed and earned top prizes. Two show choirs competed at a local festival in January and returned home with silver awards.
Those two AHS show choirs performed at the 12th Annual Mill City Show Choir Festival under the direction of Mercer and choreographer Beth Kennedy. Those two choirs are “Nothing But Treble,” the all-ladies show choir, and “From Start to Finish,” a mixed show choir.
