Jason Arndt jarndt@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader photo by Jason Arndt Members of the Shawano Community High School Showstoppers choir practice their “Spider Man” dance performance in preparation for “The Last Dance” next weekend. From left, Addison Lewis, junior; Dakota Schimmel, senior; Ryan Steffen, sophomore; and Ryan Carriveau, junior.
For some of the 16 Shawano Community High School seniors performing at “The Last Dance” May 8-9 in the school’s auditorium, it will mark the end of the chapter of their musical careers.
The 23rd annual program will feature nine seniors from the highly regarded jazz band and seven from the Showstoppers choir, along with about 30 other students, to deliver a wide range of song stylings.
The jazz band, which just returned from an award-winning performance at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, will have multiple music genres including contemporary and Latin tunes, along with a rock tune by Canadian musician Maynard Ferguson.
“It is going to be a great show, it always is, and I think it is underrated sometimes,” said senior trumpeter Frankie Rabas, who has been part of the band since she was a freshman.
Rabas and pianist Sara Arens anticipate utilizing tunes they captured the UW-Eau Claire festival. They played a flugel ballad, “Blue,’’ and Ferguson’s “Give It One.”
“We are going to play our competition tunes because it worked out really well,” Arens said.
Featured instrumentalists are Mitch Micik, drum set; Threse Van Dyck, alto sax; Mariah Ruehle, tenor sax; Myra MacMurray, baritone sax; Jacob Schoenike, bass trombone; Nate Wilson, trombone; Rabas, trumpet; Arens, piano; and Noah Kallies, bass.
The Showstoppers show choir is also making preparations for the annual event and has a mission to sing a diverse range, from Frank Sinatra’s “Blue Moon” and “All the Things You Are,” to present day Enrique Iglesias.
Jonathan Kent, choir director, also indicated there will be a Disney medley, and a dance performance from the movie “Spider Man.”
“It is a real wide range of stuff between what has been played long before us, and stuff that is presently out there right now,” Kent said.
Dakota Schimmel, one of seven seniors in the Showstoppers, looks forward to showcasing his talent to the audience and will play “Hero” by Iglesias.
“This year I get to perform a solo, which I don’t too often. Usually I always do things with the group,” said Schimmel. “It is a chance to show what I do.”
Taylor Genke, who is undecided about her solo, is excited to be a part of the performance for the second year, but this year carries a special meaning.
“I am really excited, because we are the big seniors, so it pretty much involves us,” Genke said. “But I am sad because I like choir and being a part of Showstoppers, but it is off to other things.”