Chaparral High School’s Rodgers + Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’

The Bobby G Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in Colorado high-school musical theatre. The sixth annual awards take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 24, at the Buell Theatre. (Reserve your seat here)

Each year, we single out one category for further recognition on the NewsCenter. This year, we are spotlighting the five schools nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Chorus with with an Q&A with each school’s Choral Director. Next up: Chaparral High School’s Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella in Parker.

CHAPARRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Luke Tredinnick, Choral Director

• How does one become a Choral Director, anyway? I performed in my first musical when I was 5 and sang in choir, band, orchestra and every musical-theater performance I could from elementary school through high school. I loved it so much that I went to college to study vocal (and instrumental) music performance and education. After performing in college, community theater and even some professional summer-stock performances, I began directing musicals as both the vocal and pit director. Now I teach choir full time at Chaparral, and along with that, I direct the vocal music for all our musicals.
• Which singing range is hardest to find at your school? It varies each year, but typically male voices — especially in the tenor section— can be a bit more tricky to come by. That said, we have had several incredible male singers in my three years here.
• What is the value that a full and robust (and on-key) chorus brings to an overall production? The chorus truly sets the tone for the show and establishes the overall quality of the production. Cinderella is a perfect example, as it begins with the chorus setting a storybook-like theme with a rich and magical quality.
• What’s the one thing you wish people knew about the chorus of a high-school musical production? That it is so difficult. I would argue that the majority of the time, singing the chorus and ensemble parts is more difficult to sing than some of the principals’ tracks. Mostly because singing harmony and blending is not easy to come by. Also, in the majority of modern shows, male chorus voices tend to constantly sing in their upper registers, which can be very trying for our high-school-aged guys. 
  
• What do you say to a student who is disappointed to be ‘only’ a chorus member? I would say that it is a misconception to feel that way, and that each role is as big as you make it. In our shows, we really stress the importance of the whole group that puts so much work into making our productions what they are. 
• What is the greatest chorus performance you have ever witnessed? What comes to mind is a performance I saw when I was younger of a group called the King’s Singers. They are a small group of male voices (from England) who are able to sing in the full Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass range, and do so exceptionally. They talk about how many of their vowel shapes and ways of blending are considered “wrong” by many standards, but it works for them. Their live performances are perfectly balanced, and the blend is so incredible that it often sounds too good to be true.

Reserve your seat for the May 24 Bobby G Awards

• What does it mean to your kids to be nominated for a Bobby G Award as a choral ensemble? It’s such an honor. We begin our long rehearsal period for every show by working with the choir. They are the backbone of the show and add so much. Our kids work really hard, and the level of growth I observe in them is truly inspiring.
• What has this experience taught you about the value of music education and extracurricular activities at your school? They show how powerful the performing arts can be in all of our lives. Our entire performing-arts department comes together to work on these shows, and they spend so much extracurricular time perfecting things. It is an honor to work with my fantastic colleagues and these amazingly talented students. When those last few weeks get really draining, that’s a major force that keeps us working to reach our full potential.
• Anything else you want to add? I would like to especially thank our amazing accompanist Mrs. Karen Hearn for her support of the singers — and myself. She has been a literal one-person orchestra in many of our rehearsals. She’s the best.

Selected recent coverage of the Bobby G Awards:

• 2018 Bobby G Award finalists are announced
• 2017 Bobby G Awards: Persistence pays off at Valor Christian
• Video: The 2017 Bobby Awards welcoming montage
• Videos: Complete coverage of the 2017 Bobby G Awards
• 2017 Bobby G Award finalists are announced
• Mamma Mia‘s Cashelle Butler returns to Cherry Creek High School
• Authentic voices: 2017 student playwriting winners announced

Our series of featured Outstanding Chorus nominees

• Brighton High School’s Once On This Island
• Fairview High School’s Bring it On: The Musical
• ThunderRidge High School’sOnce Upon a Mattress
• Chaparral High School’s Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
• Regis Jesuit High School’s Fiddler on the Roof

Meet our nominated Outstanding lead actors and actresses:

• Jeremiah Garcia, Pomona High School, Arvada
• Elisha Horne, Vista PEAK Preparatory, Aurora
• Coco Justino, Denver School of the Arts
• Anton Karabushin, Eaglecrest High School, Aurora
• Abby Lehrer, Castle View High School, Castle Rock
• Isabella McArdle, Liberty High School, Colorado Springs
• Daelyn Nace, Fort Collins High School
• Dominique Smith-Lopez, Vista PEAK Preparatory, Aurora
• Travis Turner,  Fossil Ridge High School, Fort Collins
• Will Warner, Lakewood High School

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter