With contest, solos, and the BVSW spring talent show, Spotlight, to juggle, choir members prepare to have a long next two months. Not only are some students memorizing up to 10 different pieces inside school but many are involved in plays or other extra-curricular activities requiring even more time and dedication to put forth.

“From a full school day of all honors classes to play practice for this years BVSW spring play, “The Audition”, after school to voice lessons later that night. Finally, I get home to complete my homework which can require another hour or two,” BVSW sophomore choir member Joann Armstrong said. “Although I have a busy plate, memorizing music and learning my lines comes easy if you practice as much as possible. I truly believe practice makes performance and the experience is completely 100 percent worth it.”

Joann is not the only student working hard to fulfill her commitments. This semester, BVSW choir members have been putting in extra hours in order to memorize their complicated pieces. April 16, the date of choir ensemble contest, is creeping closer and closer as students work hard to perfect any struggling spots in their music while also handling additional  outside commitments.

“Memorizing the German in Zigeunrleben has been extremely difficult for me this semester,” senior Chorale member Dougie Dowell said. “Different languages are already super complicated because its hard to follow what I’m singing and it doesn’t help that the words in this specific piece don’t repeat that much. Personally, I enjoy singing pieces written in english because I can connect with the lyrics on a deeper level and it is way less challenging.”

BVSW choirs are singing in a variety of different languages including German, French, and Italian. With no professional help while learning these languages and many students not having any type of background with the languages, memorization has shown to be difficult with many students but others enjoy the different languages and love the challenging music this year.

“For me, singing in German, Italian, or French doesn’t necessarily decrease my enjoyment of the piece. Instead I find myself working harder than I would if the music was in english because I want to make sure that my diction, interpretation, and pronunciation is spot-on in the piece,” junior Chorale and Chamber singer John Hacker said. “I think I actually enjoy singing in a language other than english better.”

The pieces of music are challenging this semester but practice makes perfect. Also, performing arts students balance their time between activities because many have other interests outside of BVSW choir.

“Football, wrestling, and tennis have all been activities I have been involved in this year,” Hacker said. “At first, I was worried that there would be a lot of problems with being in so many different things but Schiebler is super understanding and loves to have her choir students involved in other things. I never felt pressured to choose a choir event over one of my other activities because she always was very supportive of me and encouraging me to be involved.”

Although Southwest is a smaller school, there are many positive aspects of a closer-knit faculty.

“With SW still being so much smaller than surrounding high schools, we all have to be a little more flexible,” BVSW choir director Susan Schiebler said.  “Coaches, sponsors and directors often share the same outstanding kids, and there’s that thing about “sharing”.”

Staff members work together to cooperate with one another’s busy schedules. It can be difficult but BVSW faculty are understanding with the different activities going on.

 “As a staff, we really try to not schedule events that overlap.  This does get a little more challenging in the spring with sports – especially when there are rain-out make up games/matches/meets etc.,” Schiebler said. “There aren’t many days in the spring when there isn’t a sporting event going on, so that does get a little more challenging.  I try to work around individual’s other activities.  Like I can move performance times within the concert to accommodate their other activities.”

Re-arranging practices and performances, handling kid’s busy schedules, and constantly communicating with other staff members can be a struggle but the end result is always worth it for director Susan Schiebler and accompanist Kezia Schrag.

“Yes, it can be difficult to be a classical musician/ accompanist while raising a child, having a family, and finishing my doctorate. I have no “days off” and the hours are all over the place so Robert, my husband, and I are constantly juggling work and parenting,” Kezia said. “But nights where I get to see the talent of those I work with makes me realize how privileged I am to get paid to make music and do what I love.”