The day is almost here. The day the show choir has practiced non stop for. They’re stressed out, and yet they feel a more tranquil emotion at the thought of performing for those who feel and comprehend them. Those who will support and cheer them on. With competition right around the corner, no one really has time to complain. It’s the last few touches they are making as they practice that can make all the difference at the Keller Texas competition on Feb. 22.

Perfecting and polishing the show three times a week, every single week, show choir members said they significantly improved after each rehearsal. They spend seven to eight months perfecting a 15-minute performance consisting of three to four songs. On Mondays they practice from 6-8 p.m. and Wednesdays and Thursdays in the morning before school.

“They’re a group of kids, very talented kids, with the hardest work effort I have seen,” Show Choir Director Jason Mayfield said. “Not only do they having to dance at a very high level, but they also have to sing at a very high level.”

This year’s competition their will be 16 show choirs competing for finals. Rider being one out of three 4A schools while the other thirteen are 5A top ranking schools in the nation. Even with the stress to fill in a spot at finals, the team still tries to enjoy and have fun at the competitions with each other.

“When you are performing at show choir competitions, of course it is stressful, but we’re performing in front of people who are doing what we’re doing,” senior Show Choir President Demointe Wesley said. “They know how stressful it is and they’re not going to judge us.”

At the competition participants and parents who are there to cheer them on are trying to enjoy themselves.

“I thought it would be very stressful, but it’s really an exciting atmosphere, like  everybody’s into it, everybody is cheering you on,” junior Bonnie Lambert said. “It’s a very supportive environment.”

The team members say the support system they get from the other show choirs and the members of the Show Choir family can really make all the hard and dedicated work worthwhile.

“Even though it’s hard work, it’s still fun,” freshman Jessica Spicer said. “At first I got nervous but we all mess up sometimes so it was okay because we are all really committed.”

The students can at least always rely on each other to be there even when there might be a few times they don’t get along. Because at the end of the day Wesley feels that being a part of the team is what makes this show choir the best show choir out of all those in the past.

“Like any team we do have our bad days but this year has been better at being  more of a family,” Wesley said. “It’s people who actually like each other and we get along.”

Show Choir members say there are so many things that make them love the program. Lambert feels that just the performing with everybody in the team and watching it come together is one of the best parts because at the end of the day, they know how hard they’ve worked and that singing, dancing and even doing a bit of acting is what they love to do.

“At every show choir competition I’ve been to, the people there are so warm because they know how it feels and we all clap for each other and scream for each other and it’s just wonderful,” Wesley said. “ I think that everyone should have that experience of being able to go and be with the people who love what you love to do.”