Show Choir

As finalists in an America's Favorite Show Choir competition, Waynesboro Area Senior High School's top vocalists are hoping to strike a chord with online voters. The Wayneaires are asking for votes at www.parade.com/choir to earn them national bragging rights. The contest is associated with Parade magazine, which is included in The Herald-Mail on Sundays. High school senior Zachary Arestad said some of the other entrants have professionally made videos, while Waynesboro's submission was filmed on a cell phone.

Angela Pittinger has been practicing her routine since last month, but dealing with strained vocal chords and blistered feet would be worth the sacrifice if her school walked away with a trophy at this weekend's Martinsburg High School Concert and Show Choir Festival. Pittinger, the dance captain at Washington High School in Charles Town, W.Va., said the hours of work are worth it. “I'd love to take a trophy back to school. But no matter if we win or lose, at the end of the day, everybody loves show choir,” the 18-year-old senior said as she practiced some last-minute dance moves.

HAGERSTOWN -- The group dashed onto the stage at Hagerstown Community College's Kepler Theater Sunday afternoon, offering their rendition of the song "YMCA" by the Village People. Wearing props like an Indian headdress, a sailor's hat and a hard hat, the performers sang an energetic version of the 1978 song, jutting their hips, yelling to people in the crowd and spelling out YMCA with their arms. Then the group bounded off the stage and danced their way up the aisles as people in the audience laughed.

Hagerstown Community College will present the Superlatives show choir performing "Only in America" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at HCC's Kepler Theater, Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown. The concert will feature a history of popular music from the oldies but goodies through the best of rock 'n' roll. The concert is free.

SMITHSBURG - Kathy Boyd didn't know Smithsburg Police Officer Christopher Shane Nicholson personally, but her 15-year-old son Jeremy did from after-school contact at Smithsburg High School. On Friday night, the school's show choir - including Jeremy Boyd - put on a special benefit concert in memory of Nicholson, who was shot and killed in the line of duty Dec. 19. Money collected in a basket Friday was earmarked for a scholarship fund in Nicholson's name at Williamsport High School, as well as a college fund for the children of Alison Munson, who also was slain Dec. 19 in Halfway, allegedly by a former boyfriend who later shot Nicholson near Smithsburg.

HAGERSTOWN - After explaining that at least half of The Superlatives show choir members had not been on stage before, Korby Moss Sanders introduced 10 young people who performed as if they'd been born in a theater. An appreciative audience of 70 to 80 people attended Friday evening's "Made in the USA" production at Hagerstown Community College's Kepler Theater. "We've put together a history of American music," Sanders said. That included blues, rock 'n' roll, Motown and Broadway show tunes through the years.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Martinsburg North Middle School jazz band, show choir and women's choir all can be called one thing -- winners. The groups traveled to Kutztown, Pa., on May 16 to perform in the Music in the Parks band and choir competitions. Deborah Steranko, managing director of Music in the Parks, said groups performed and were evaluated by judges. Each group received both written and taped comments, she said. Martinsburg North Middle was the only band from West Virginia to perform.

The public is invited to a free concert by The Superlatives, Hagerstown Community College's show choir, Saturday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at Kepler Theater. The theme of the show is "Encore," and the program will feature musical selections from oldies to classic rock, plus melodies from television shows and movies. The show choir is made up of 12 HCC students. Direction and choreography are by instructor Korby Moss-Sanders. For more information, call Joe Marschner at 301-790-2800, ext. 509.

Saturday, Feb. 10 North Hagerstown High - Jane Anderson prom fashion show in auditorium from 7 to 9 p.m. Northern Middle - Girls basketball from 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday tech program from 10 a.m. at 4 p.m. Smithsburg High - Jazz silent auction at 7 p.m. in auditorium. Williamsport High - Show Choir cabaret show at 7 p.m.; spaghetti dinner at 5 p.m.

1. Christmas treat Patrons will be treated to a Christmas dessert show featuring holiday classics like "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," original works written by the theater students, and Applemen Cobbler and brownie sundaes. Show is Saturday, Dec. 15; dessert is served at 6:30 p.m.; show is at 7 p.m., at Musselman High School, 126 Excellence Way, Inwood, W.Va. $15; $25 couples; special rates for Berkeley County Schools employees. Call 304-229-1900 or email musslemantheatre@comcast.net . 2. A solemn experience Festival of Lights, a luminaria ceremony, will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park, 17636 W. Washington St., Hagerstown.  Reflections, Clear Spring High School show choir, will perform Christmas carols.

The City of Hagerstown will host its annual tree-lighting ceremony in Public Square at 5 p.m. Monday, followed by the 23rd annual Hollyfest at The Maryland Theatre at 7 p.m. Coordinated by the city's Community Affairs Office, both events are free to the public. “We encourage everyone to come out,” Community Affairs Manager Karen Giffin said. “... And it is a great way to start the holiday season in City Center.” This year's tree is a 39-foot blue spruce donated by the city's Public Works Department.

As finalists in an America's Favorite Show Choir competition, Waynesboro Area Senior High School's top vocalists are hoping to strike a chord with online voters. The Wayneaires are asking for votes at www.parade.com/choir to earn them national bragging rights. The contest is associated with Parade magazine, which is included in The Herald-Mail on Sundays. High school senior Zachary Arestad said some of the other entrants have professionally made videos, while Waynesboro's submission was filmed on a cell phone.

Waynesboro Area Senior High School students are hitting the right notes as they are being selected for national performance opportunities. Eight students are headed to the National Mixed Choir, and clarinet player Dani Bautista will play with the National Concert Band. Piccolo player Natalie Smith plans to march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Performances for the national choir and band are scheduled for Sunday, June 24, at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. “This particular group of students has a drive and desire to strive for excellence.

With 381 graduates, the Martinsburg High School Class of 2012 is the largest yet, interim Principal Trent Sherman told a capacity crowd Friday night at the school's 134h commencement exercises. The graduating class - which received about $2.5 million in scholarships and can claim a stake in state titles won in show choir, basketball, baseball and back-to-back crowns in football - may hold the graduate record for years to come, Sherman said. Next year's graduating class is smaller, and a fourth high school is also set to open then, he said.

Clear Spring High School's Reflections and Cascades Show Choir will hold the annual dinner and show Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at St. John's United Church of Christ. Show times are at 5:30 p.m., 6, 6:30, 7 and 7:30. The all-you-can-eat dinner includes spaghetti, applesauce, bread, drink and dessert.  Tickets cost $8 for adults and $6 for those ages 5 to 12. Those younger than 5 get in free.    Pancake breakfast Wilson Ruritan will hold a country butchering and pancake breakfast Saturday, beginning at 6:30 a.m.  The breakfast will be at the Wilson Ruritan Club, west of Huyetts Crossroads on U.S. 40.  The menu includes all-you-can-eat-pancakes with one serving of puddin' or sausage patty or sausage gravy, coffee and orange juice.

Angela Pittinger has been practicing her routine since last month, but dealing with strained vocal chords and blistered feet would be worth the sacrifice if her school walked away with a trophy at this weekend's Martinsburg High School Concert and Show Choir Festival. Pittinger, the dance captain at Washington High School in Charles Town, W.Va., said the hours of work are worth it. “I'd love to take a trophy back to school. But no matter if we win or lose, at the end of the day, everybody loves show choir,” the 18-year-old senior said as she practiced some last-minute dance moves.

The Top Five 'Ezra & Jake' The play by local playwright Leigh Horne tells the true story of two local brothers raised in a cave in the woods. The play has some strong language and mature themes. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 25; and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 26. Full Circle Theatre Company, 113 S. Princess St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. $17. Purchase tickets by going to www.fullcircletheaterco.org . Call 304-268-7798. Parsons Ford Original Toughman Contest The champion in the men's divisions will each receive $1,000 and the runners-up will each receive $300.

The North Hagerstown High School Show Choir visited Morris Frock American Legion Post 42 on Northern Avenue in Hagerstown to perform a Veterans Day tribute show.