Stepping it up: Show Choir Competition Season

Isabelle McCulloch

Staff Writer

January 13th, 2025

The second-year group at Westfield High School has made the final touches for their upcoming competition season. After placing 9th at state in the large school invoice division in 2024, Illumination is focused on what's next. 

Last year was the first for Westfield to have an official competitive show choir group. With no previous reputation, the goal for the group was that there was nothing to prove, they were rather sharing their hard work. 

Now second-year teacher, Mr. Sutton stepped into the role of the new show choir teacher in hopes of sharing his passion for music with young adults. Sutton said, “There is a lot of excitement around the second year of competitive show choir in Westfield. Our theme, Haunted by Memories Past, is a story of how the events in our past can affect how we feel in the present.”

Cautious thought is given to the initial concept of the show's theme, and the shift in tone between the 2024 and 2025 shows reflects this. Sutton explains, “ This show was designed based on the opener song called "Haunted" by BRITTON. That song inspired me to think deeper about how our past impacts our present. From there, I create a show arc that creates a story.”

The group recently had their preview show for the public giving them the first look before heading to competition. Looking forward to the season, Sutton exclaims, “I am the most excited for our students to go to competitions and share the show they have been working hard on! It is a privilege to give students the opportunity to perform unique and impactful shows.”

His lasting hope is that, “All of the audiences we share this with will leave thinking about how they can learn to move forward from the things that feel like they haunt them.”