Woodhaven Choirs kicked off the 2023 season with a Broadway-themed fall concert. 

Choir Director Chelsea Rize and her musical students worked hard to pay homage to a colorful selection of classic show tunes from the world of musical theater to showcase their growing knowledge of music, music theory, and performance. 

Rize took inspiration from her own love of musical theater while organizing the setlist for the October 17 performance. “I’m just a musical theater nerd and wanted to do something high-energy to start the school year,” she explained. 

The fall concert was full of high energy. 

Concert Choir opened the show, electrifying the crowd with “You’re the One That I Want” from Grease, featuring soloist Jonathan Padgett. The darkly comedic “Revolting Children” from Matilda, featuring soloist Valdez Brown, and “Dead Mom” from Beetlejuice featuring soloist Rem Ferguson follow. 

Warrior Chorus took the audience on an emotional journey with a trio of songs including the somber “Feed the Birds,” from Mary Poppins, a sassy rendition of “New Girl in Town,” from Hairspray featuring soloist Emma Usher, and a heartfelt “Come to My Garden,” from The Secret Garden featuring soloists Lillian Fellows and Ava Doederlein. 

Senior Lillian Fellows has been a choir veteran for the past 7 years. Fellows is a highly motivated student who is a part of two choirs: Bella Voce and Chamber. Her last fall concert was a bittersweet one: “My favorite piece was ‘You Will Be Found’. There was a part when all of the seniors stood together and it was really sweet,” said Lillian Fellows. 

Treble Troubles took to the stage next for a deeper setlist that included “S.O.S.” arranged by Snyder featuring soloist Gabriella Catner, “The Song of Purple Summer” arranged by Brymer featuring soloists Jasmin Nunez, Abby Hughes, Delaney Ryan, and Megan Drabczyk, “Guy I’d Kinda Be Into” from Be More Chill featuring Chamber Tenors and Basses and soloist Tate Lertkasem. 

Chamber Ensemble brought the heat by performing “Wait For It” featuring soloists Santino Cruz, Magdalena Quiroz, and Andre Puyat, followed by “Gold,” and “You Will Be Found” by Pasek/Paul featuring solos by Raul Lopez, Griff Gardber, and Emily Natter. The ensemble closed their set with “I’m Alive” from Next to Normal, featuring soloist Sunny Ryan. 

Bella Voce performed “Opening Up” arranged by Huff featuring soloists Delaney Arthur, Hanna Pierceall, and Quinn Heaney, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” arranged by Shaw featuring soloists Skylar Winton, and “Breaking Free” from iconic “High School Musical” featuring soloists Kaylie Ferris and Jeffrey Prueitt. 

To end the concert, all choirs performed “Seasons of Love” by Emerson, featuring soloists Brooklyn Brasgalla, Hayden Brasgalla, and Magdalena Quiroz.

The fall concert was only the beginning for Woodhaven Choirs in the 2023-2024 school year. The choir program also makes an effort to reach the community through outreach events, but for now, you can look forward to their next concert during the holiday season. It doesn’t get much better outside of WHS performing arts programs.