Most extracurricular activities have a clear path to follow from year to year, one that allows students to work their way up through the ranks while improving their skills. Unfortunately, this was a trait the choir program never had, due to the missing link between middle school show choirs and the Choraliers. The choir program often presents obstacles for students with busy schedules who participate in sports or other activities. A new show choir aims to to solve both of these problems.

 “Both Ms. Korneychuk and I were talking about different ways that the kids who had been super-involved at the middle school, but couldn’t fit a choir class in their schedule, could get a chance to continue with that fun that they had,” Mrs. Akers, one of the new choir’s directors, said.

The solution came in the form of FoSho, a show choir specifically for freshmen and sophomores.  FoSho is non-audition and there’s no requirement that members have any previous singing experience or be in the DHS choir program. The directors say the goal was to welcome students who would have otherwise been left without a door into the world of choir.

“There’s no requirement that you’re in another music class like there is for Choraliers or that you really have any experience of any kind, so we’re really trying to reach students who may not have had an opportunity to participate in something like this before or who may have had plenty of experience…but they didn’t have room in their schedule to sign up for choir.” Korneychuk said.

In order to include as many students as possible, the two directors worked hard to create a rehearsal plan that would accommodate the busy schedules students know all too well. The rehearsals vary, both by day and time, so that the people who participate in many other activities will still be able to attend at least some of the rehearsals.

“When Mrs. Akers and I were making the schedule, we looked through the school calendar and tried to pick rehearsal times that worked well with other school activities…in each month there are usually a couple after school rehearsals and one evening rehearsal, which is to make it more accessible for athletes at school.” Korneychuk said.

Additionally, Akers and Korneychuk have gone the extra mile in order to make sure that choir members are able to recover from missing any rehearsals. They’re using technology to their advantage in order to allow students who miss some rehearsals to still fully participate in FoSho.

“We’ll also be able to post things on our website like rehearsal tracks, so if you miss something you’ll be able to catch up. We want to keep a standard in terms of the performance level, but we want to keep flexibility in how we get to that outcome.” Akers said.

The choir directors also emphasize the self-advocacy element of the flexible rehearsal schedule. They have faith that the students who sign up for FoSho will be motivated enough to make up whatever they missed using the tools provided to them.

“We’ve been telling students as they sign up and express interest that there’s a certain amount of leniency in terms of the certain amount of rehearsals. Every rehearsal will be an important rehearsal but we’re trusting that the students who sign up are interested enough that need they miss a rehearsal for another activity they’ll have the capabilities to make it up and get caught up with the group” Korneychuk said.

The choir directors’ goal to reach out to students who were active in middle school, but would have been without choir opportunities freshman year, has been successful, according to freshman and FoSho member Grace Leman.

“I was in Charisma, which is the show choir at Caruso, in 8th grade and I really enjoyed it, so I decided that it would be a good idea to join FoSho, since there are no other opportunities for freshman for show choir.” Leman said.

Outside of being specifically for underclassman, what really sets FoSho apart is its inclusive nature, which allows students with a variety of interests, and any amount of singing experience, to join and not feel out of place.

“I really like [FoSho]. The atmosphere is really inclusive and I feel like you can be yourself there.” Leman said.

 FoSho’s rehearsals are already underway for this year, with regular practices for the chorus concert on December 17th, but students who were unable to participate during first semester are welcome to join FoSho in January, and will still be allowed to participate in the March choral concert.

“If you’re the type of person that enjoys dancing, singing and hanging out with your friends, and just having fun, I think that FoSho is a great thing to sign up for.” Leman said.