Tuesday night, the CG Choir Department hosted the first night of their annual Pre-Contest Show. The purpose behind the show is to allow students from the JV and Varsity show choirs to perform their competition shows in front of a live audience. However, among the glittering costumes and clicking heels of the performers was a brand new act, featuring the song Baby by Justin Bieber.
The act was performed by members of Best Buddies, a club which focuses on forming friendships with peers with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Many of the students in Best Buddies already participate in the choir program, whether that is through their varsity choirs or through Sound Check, a beginner level mixed chorus. Junior Kiera Kobiela, President of Best Buddies member of the Debtones varsity choir, explained how the idea to do a Best Buddies show came to fruition.
“My passion is for best buddies, so when I found out there were buddies in choir who wanted to do the show, I knew we had to do an act,” said Kobiela.
The act was choreographed by senior Paige Gordon, Kiera Kobiela, and sophomores Evie Ratz, Mollie Painter and Brooklyn Wilkins. All four girls are members of the Best Buddies leadership team, and worked with seniors Evy Anderson and Addy Finchum to make sure the choreography was fun and easy to remember.
“We started with what the words were to implicate our moves with the words of the song. Then we went and slowed down parts and rhythms so then it would be easier and more comfortable for the buddies,” said Kobiela.
In order to prepare for the show, the group practiced during AIM, at home, and prior to the show on Tuesday night.
“We had AIM rehearsals, and since I’m a peer tutor I could practice with buddies during class. It was a process but it was fun,” said Junior Saylor Hawkins.
For the act, many of the participants were paired with their buddy, including junior Mollie Painter. Painter has been paired with her buddy, Addy Finchum, for the last two years, and the pair took to the stage together in matching Best Buddies gear.
“I loved performing with Addy. She is so much fun and I am so blessed to be paired with her,” said Painter. “She loves performing and is always the star on stage so I loved getting to perform with her.”
According to the troupe members, there were many memorable moments from their performance.
“To have the famous William and Adam Mangold talking before we even started—it was silent in the auditorium—saying things like ‘best buddies dance’ or ‘get ready,’ it was so funny and I remember when the music and lights turned on we all started laughing,” said Kobiela.
Although the experience of performing on stage was not new to a majority of the group members, it was a unique opportunity to spotlight members of Best Buddies who have been in the program for the last four years.
“It was so exciting knowing that we were about to go out there and have the time of our lives performing, “ said Evy Anderson.
For many of the performers, the act highlighted years of meaningful relationships and gave Best Buddies members a moment to truly shine in front of a packed auditorium. With the final night of the Annual Pre-Contest Show taking place tonight, audiences will once again have the opportunity to witness the talent and heart that define the CG Choir program, and to see how new traditions, like this Best Buddies act, continue to make the show even more special.
