“We can’t control where we finish, we just want to get better with each performance,” Anderson said.
There are 38 students in Cutting Edge, drawn from a pool of 140 students who auditioned last May. Their season began in August with a weeklong camp in which they learned the basics of the music and choreography.
Their practice season was complicated by the fact Anderson’s co-director, his wife, Kristin, and choreographer Tracey Knight both had babies, which cut into the time they could spend with the choir.
“It was a rough start to the competition season because we felt we weren’t as prepared as last year,” he said, “but we really pulled together and had a lot of drive.”
Their competition show was titled “Live Out Loud,” and included popular tunes by Kelly Clarkson, Ricky Martin and the Jonas Brothers.
“In choir, we do better music,” Anderson confided, “but since show choir is extra-curricular, we feel OK doing pop music.”
But the key ingredient is that the students love what they do, he said.
“I absolutely love the show,” said freshman Chase Engel. “They couldn’t have picked a better line up.”
Although Engel said he hopes to be able to make the high school’s Rhapsody in Blue show choir next year, he doesn’t really see Cutting Edge as a stepping stone toward that goal, but an entity into its own.
“We sing and dance like a high school choir,” he said. “Mrs. Knight really stepped up her game this year and made us all work hard.”
“There’s really good energy in this group,” added freshman Amanda Davidson. “We’re all a bunch of hams. We do this because it’s in our blood. We can’t get away from it.”
Anderson said, “It’s a testament to the talent of these kids that we’re competing against schools that have had these programs for years.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.
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