Energy runs high in the auditorium whenever Free Spirit takes the stage. With every drum beat and guitar riff, the band transforms choreography and vocals into a full performance.
Last month, PLHS’s varsity show choir group, Free Spirit’s performance season came to a fiery conclusion with the group taking 4th place in the finals competition at Grand Island High School. The Free Spirit band is made up of dedicated musicians who perform alongside talented vocalists during competitions and concerts.
When it comes to assigning positions within the band, there are many factors to take into account, like, how many players of a certain instrument? What instruments are needed? And more importantly, who will lead the band? In Free Spirit’s case, their conductor is senior band member Vicky Wu.
“My job is to keep the band in time,” Wu said. “I have to make sure we stay together so that the dancers don’t get off-beat.”
Teamwork is an essential pillar to any group, and show choir is no different. Singers and band members rely on each other and must work together in order to perform their best. Junior, Natalie Olson, is Free Spirit’s bass guitarist.
“Band members and singers constantly work together,” Olson said. “As everyone has to stay in time and find a balance between instruments and singing.”
Being involved in show band isn’t all fun and games, it is also a huge time commitment. Singers and band members rehearse once a week and travel, sometimes out of state, to unknown schools for performances.
“Something most people don’t realize about show band is that it can be a lot of commitment,” Olson said. “Practices can last around 3 hours and competitions anywhere from 10-15.”
Dancing to up-beat choreography can be tiring for dancers, just as keeping up with quick tempo changes can be difficult for instrumentalists, so it’s important that they all get a chance to catch their breath during a performance, this year’s ballad does just that.’
“My favorite song in the set is our ballad: Roads,” Wu said. “It’s just a very calming song, it starts with a beautiful solo, and it’s a good break opportunity for both the singers and the band.”
For many musicians, show band can be a big change from other band-related curriculars such as marching band or concert band, as the styles of music and fundamental playing techniques can have drastic differences.
“As drum major, the style of conducting is very different in marching band, it’s very consistent,” Wu said. “As conductor of show band I have to experiment a lot more with different styles of conducting.”
Competition can be tough during audition season, only a small number of people end up making the cut. Aspiring students practicing for hours on end in hopes of being a part of something so particular.
“I would tell someone auditioning next year to be confident and try their hardest,” Olson said. “And if they don’t make it there’s always seniors graduating and we are constantly looking for new sound.”
In the end, Free Spirit’s band is more than just background music behind the show choir–it’s the heartbeat of the performance.
