Choraliers Season Update

Choraliers Continue Successful Season, Look Forward to Annual “Home Show”

By,

Reedsburg Features Staff

The Choraliers continued a streak of impressive showings with a 2nd place finish in LaCrosse Logan’s Grand Showcase last weekend. The team has now amassed several top finishes over the past month and cemented itself as one of the top programs in the state. This weekend finds the group in Monona Grove for their final, and arguably, their most challenging competition. Director, Mrs. Kristen Sporakowski, shared her thoughts on the season as a whole, this weekend’s competition, and the upcoming Home Show in March at the CAL Center.

RF: How do you use the feedback at competitions to evolve your show from week to week?

KS: Each week we receive feedback from the judges and clinicians. We use that information to make changes to different aspects of the show. This includes elements such as vowels, dynamics, choreography and tempos. If we like the suggestions we get, we keep them. If we don't, we choose not to use them. 

RF: What have been the most significant improvements you have seen your group make this winter?

KS: The most significant changes I have seen in our show is the improvement in our vocals. Show Choir competitions have a major focus on vocal performance. Each week, I have seen significant growth in our group's vocal balance, blend, diction and tone. 

RF: What makes this group special?

KS: I am very proud that this group, which has 60 out of its 84 members who are in their first or second year of show choir, has competed and done so well against teams with much more experience.

RF: What is your goal for the competition at Monona Grove this Saturday?

KS:  Our goal this weekend is to have the best show possible. We are only guaranteed one more performance but I would love to perform our show twice! It is going to take everything that our team has to make Finals at this very tough Monona Grove competition. 

RF: You have Home Show coming up March 13-15 at the CAL Center. For those who have never been, what kind of things will they be treated to if they attend?

KS: The Home Show is a very special event in our season. It is a celebration of our fantastic season and the 84 students who make up our team this year. We sing 11 brand new songs, chosen just for the weekend. We have an amazing raffle, with new prizes each night. It also marks the last time that you will ever see "Anchors Aweigh" performed by this multi award winning group. Come to the Home Show, you don't want to miss it!!

Reedsburg Choraliers Start Season with Back-to-Back Success

By,

Jack Meyer

The Reedsburg Choraliers 2025-2026 season is in full swing and off to a hot start. The group’s first competition took place in Holmen on January 10. Although the team didn't return to town until nearly 2 a.m., they brought home plenty of "hardware" to show for their hard work. Rylee Biermeier ‘26 and Phynn Severson ‘29 were named the day's Showstoppers, and the band earned the "Best Band" title. Overall, the group qualified for finals and claimed 5th runner-up.

After a one-week break for much-needed rest, the Choraliers traveled to Sparta for their second competition of the season. While 5th runner-up was a strong start, the group remained hungry for more. In Sparta, they took home an impressive 2nd runner-up finish. The band continued its winning streak, securing "Best Band" for the second consecutive week. Biermeier once again earned the Showstopper award, and Hal LeMaster ’28 won his first "Best Soloist" award of the year—an honor he received multiple times last season. To wrap up the successful night, Graham Ferge ’29 and Madeline Meyer ’27 received the Finals Star Performer awards.

The group finished 7th place at this past Saturday’s Sauk Prairie Invitational. This put them just outside of the top six finishers for finals. While the team did not make finals this week, a major bright spot was LeMaster again being named the competition’s top soloist. The Choraliers return to action this weekend in Eau Claire at another all day competition. 

Reedsburg Features caught up with Hal LeMaster, who took home top soloist honors in Sparta as well as Sauk last weekend. The standout singer reflected on the Choraliers early season performances and shared a look ahead to future competitions.

RF) What made the biggest difference in the group's performance between Holmen and Sparta? 

HLM) I think our biggest improvement was in our singing. At competitions, singing is worth the most points on the judging rubric, so it was important that we worked on our dynamics and the balance between parts—ensuring we were loud or quiet at the right moments.

RF) What have you done individually to connect with the judges and the crowd? 

HLM) Personally, I really let myself go in Sparta and just went crazy on stage, which is what my solo requires. I also added many small movements to help the audience and judges understand the story I was singing.

RF) How can the group keep improving as the season continues? 

HLM) We can continue to refine our vocal balance so that no one part, like alto or soprano, overpowers the others. I also think every individual can work more on telling their own story through their performance, even while dancing.

RF) What are you looking forward to? 

HLM) I am looking forward to the rest of the season, having fun at the competitions, and hopefully beating rival schools like Sauk and Onalaska!

RF) What has been your favorite moment so far? 

HLM) My favorite part has been taking third place at our last competition. It was great watching everyone celebrate, seeing the sportsmanship between all the schools, and realizing how much we improved since our first competition.

Reedsburg Features caught up with Sparta Finals Star Performer, Madeline Meyer ‘27, who shared her reflections on the busy first few weeks of the season and goals for the competitions ahead!

RF) What made the biggest difference in the group's performance between Holmen and Sparta? 

MM) We’ve done a lot of work on dynamic contrast throughout the show and added small movement touches to make it visually more interesting.

RF) What have you done individually to connect with the judges and the crowd? 

MM) I work hard to clearly communicate the storyline through my facial expressions and the acting required for the show.

RF) How can the group keep improving as the season continues? 

JM) As a group, I think we need to work on listening to each other to maintain a good vocal balance. For the choreography, we can work on keeping our movements powerful and clean while using our expressions to tell the story.

RF) What are you looking forward to? 

JM) I’m looking forward to continuing to improve the show and hopefully making the finals more often!

RF) What has been your favorite moment so far? 

MM) Making the finals at Holmen was my favorite moment. It was a very tough competition, and making the finals at our first event was a great way to boost our morale for the start of the season.