The Story of Music Warehouse

At this time Verda was doing double-duty - teaching at both the high school and junior high.  One day a sixth-grade student - JD Cowden - came in and asked if she needed any more children to sing.  Verda answered "yes," and the next day 106 sixth graders came to join the choral program.  That sixth grade class followed through with their commitment to the program - they went on to win Grand Champion honors at the Bishop Luers Show Choir Invitational in 1981 and 1982.  

EHS football coach Bob Manuszak also played a significant role in the early years of Music Warehouse.  Manuszak came to Verda one day after noticing her crying in the teacher's lounge.  She told him she was discouraged with the number of high school men in the group.  The next day four football players were sent to the choir room by Coach Manuszak - and over time, other athletes followed suit.  

In 1975, Verda's college friend, Ron Hellems, told her about a new form of music and entertainment growing in the Midwest - "show choir."  Ron was the choral director at Norwell High School at the time, and Verda wanted to learn more about the idea of putting singing and dancing together into a "show."  With a group of students in tow, Verda headed to Ft. Wayne, IN and Bishop Luers High School, where the first show choir invitational was held.  At the time, Bishop Luers was the only show choir competition - so any choral group wanting to put together a competitive show headed to the small catholic school each year.  After seeing the performances, Verda decided to bring Music Warehouse to the competition.  Within five years, Music Warehouse was named Grand Champion of the prestigious contest.  

Heading into the 1980s, Music Warehouse set a standard of excellence in the growing world of show choir.  In 1983 the group took its first out-of-state trip to compete in New York City, winning Grand Championship honors again.  A few years later Music Warehouse traveled to the west coast, competing in California at the Young Americans Invitational.  Costumes and sets became more elaborate, shows became more physical with precise dancing and theatrics added to turn the production into an abbreviated Broadway show.  

In April 1987, the passing of Verda's husband and Music Warehouse choreographer Jim Savage brought a solemn time for the group and community.  That fall, Marty DeMott - a graduate of Ball State University - became the new choreographer for Music Warehouse.  Todd Carr joined in as musical arranger, and the trio stepped into a new chapter in the group's history.  The group won its third Grand Championship at Bishop Luers in 1989, along with a Grand Championship in New York City that same year.  

Three major events occurred in 1993 - the first being the loss of senior Lori Sermersheim in a car accident.  The group vowed to honor her memory for the rest of the season.  In April the first Contest of Champions, Edgewood's own show choir invitational, was held, followed by the first annual Tis the Season holiday concert in December.  

By the early 2000s, show choir mania was coast-to-coast.  High schools not only had their premier mixed choirs but also single-gender and beginner groups - and middle schools were just as active on the competition circuit.  National contests became the goal for many groups, and Music Warehouse - often joined by the Sophisticated Ladies and New Edition show choirs from Edgewood and Mini Warehouse from Edgewood Junior High - continued to be strong competitors.  Top six placements were common for the groups, and three Grand Championships were bestowed on Music Warehouse in the decade.  

2012 was a transitional year.  In early February Verda was traveling in Missouri when she was involved in a near-fatal car accident.  In addition to her injuries, she suffered a stroke.  As Verda healed and recuperated out of state, a team of people came together to help guide Music Warehouse that year, led by Edgewood Band Director Aaron Wells.  The group won Grand Championship honors at the FAME Orlando national competition, and Verda recovered enough to make a surprise appearance at Contest of Champions that April, and directed the group in the spring concert.  However, through these challenges Verda made the decision to resign from her role at Edgewood.  Brian Paulsen, the long-time director of the Edgewood Junior High Choral Department, had been leading his groups to consistent success for several years.  Upon Verda's departure, Brian became the director of the high school program.  

After leaving Edgewood, Verda taught at Lafayette Jefferson High School, leading the top show choirs for nearly a decade.  She made the decision to come home to southern Indiana, where she taught in Salem, IN before finally retiring in 2023.  However, Verda is still sought after for her skills as a clinician and judge - so she is still heavily involved with the show choir world.  In fact, she has returned to Edgewood several times to judge at Contest of Champions. 

Over the next 13 years, Music Warehouse continued the standard of excellence it had established from Day One.  Brian led Music Warehouse to annual Grand Championships each year from 2013 to 2020.  The pandemic brought challenges for all show choirs - how do you have partners and interactive choreography while maintaining social distancing? - but the groups continued to compete across the country and receive Top Six recognition as well as Best Choreography, Best Vocals, Best Soloists, Best Band, Best Crew and other honors.  Brian's talents kept Contest of Champions and Tis the Season as highlights for the students and show choir world, and his musical arrangements have been crucial to the ongoing success of the Edgewood High School Choral Department.  

In the spring of 2026, Brian resigned from Edgewood High School.  The transition left an opening before the end of the school year - and Verda was hired back as the choir director for the remainder of the school year.  Using the foundations built by Brian, Verda led Music Warehouse and Sophisticated Ladies to their final competition of the season at the Fame Show Choir National Finals in Branson, MO.  Sophisticated Ladies won Grand Champion honors in their division (their first of the season) and Music Warehouse came in 1st runner-up.  

There are many individuals who helped build Music Warehouse into the performing group it is today.  J. Kevin Buter met Verda in conducting class when he was an undergraduate at Indiana University in the late 1970s.  Kevin was eager to try out his vocal ideas and offered to provide voice lessons to Music Warehouse members.  Kevin taught students in Verda and Jim Savage's home, and was an integral part of the success of Music Warehouse in the early 1980s.  Ruth Bailey, Verda's high school choir teacher, provided encouragement to Verda in those early years - and Ruth went on to form her own successful show choir in New Albany, Indiana.  Patsy Powell, an elementary school teacher in the RBB system, would provide lists to Verda of young students with promising musical ability.  Those lists would help nurture the love of music in students during their years in school.  

As 50 years approaches, the Music Warehouse family have made lasting marks in their communities, personally and professionally.  The group has been fortunate to have valedictorians and salutatorians as members, as well as student athletes and musically-gifted individuals.  Beyond the doors of Edgewood, Music Warehouse alumni have become doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, educators, elected officials and strong community members - and many alumni still keep music as a key part of their lives.  Many alumni have gone into musical careers, performing as soloists or in groups, appaering on stages and teaching singing and dancing to new generations of show choir students.  The group was even recognized in the 2011 book Sweat, Tears and Jazz Hands: The Official History of Show Choir by Mike Weaver and Colleen Hart. 

It's impossible to know what the next generation of show choir will look like.  However, there is no question that Verda's influence on the early days of show choir can still be found today in schools nationwide.  Both Verda and Brian have impacted the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of students and supporters.  From dancing on wooden boxes in the "Cafetorium" to performing at Disney Parks, the Grand Ole Opry and in New York theaters, Music Warehouse has maintained a reputation of excellence in the show choir world... and it shows no signs of stopping.