CRESTVIEW — With performances of show tunes, oldies and contemporary pop, a Monday evening audience had its appetites whetted for the Crestview High School chorus’ 2014-15 season.
Public performances will include Christmas and spring concerts, the Walt Disney World Christmas celebration, and singing the national anthem during the school’s homecoming football game.
Despite limited rehearsal time — less than two weeks for some new members — the chorus easily tackled enjoyable pieces, such as Chorale’s performance of Brian Tate’s “We Are One.”
The Women’s Choir offered a perky rendition of “Wishin’ and Hopin’, a 1964 Burt Bacharach-Hal David hit for Dusty Springfield.
The all-girl Destiny show choir made easy work of “The New Girl in Town,” from the Broadway hit “Hairspray,” and even tossed in some choreography despite minimal rehearsal time.
The Men’s Choir needed a slight nudge from Choral Music Director Kevin Lusk to bump up the rhythm on Frankie Valli’s hit, “Working My Way Back to You,” recently revived in the Broadway Tony winner, “Jersey Boys.”
The guys are down several members this year: Just 19 took to the Pearl Tyner Auditorium stage Monday night. To compensate, Lusk must pull stronger, louder performances from them.
Luckily, there’s a solid foundation of talent to build on.
With talent such as senior Ricardo “Rickie” Coley, who exuded confidence as he strode downstage center and soloed on Chanticleer’s rendition of Imagine Dragons’ 2012 hit, “Radioactive,” great performances are anticipated from the guys — and the chorus as a whole.
Email News Bulletin Arts and Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 2014-15 Crestview High chorus makes its debut