Newsletter
What is the Sixth Grade Show Choir About?

The sixth grade show choir at Onalaska has a rich tradition of being the start of a feeder system that produces one of the best high school show choirs in the nation: the Onalaska Hilltopper Show Choir.  It is very beneficial for children to begin getting into music at an early age because it helps to make the kids diverse.  The children will appreciate the world of music and what it can do for them.  At the same time, these children are hopefully participating in athletics and other co-curricular activities; therefore, developing well-rounded children who are appreciative of many types of activities and opinions.  Show Choir is beneficial because it inflates self-esteem instead of deflating it like a lot of athletic activities tend to do.  The children can go to show choir practice and know that they will be allowed to be themselves and express their emotions and creativity in a totally different way.  This is vital to a child’s sanity, which is why each sixth grade student should give show choir a try.
 THE DIRECTORS:

The directors for this year’s sixth grade show choir are Scott Brose and Derek Ostrem.  Scott Brose is a senior at the University of Wisconsin- Lacrosse.  He is currently working toward a BA in music education.  He drinks a lot of beer and has a lot of parties. This is just the person that a parent wants their son/daughter around.  Scott handles most of the vocal responsibility, but he also plays a vital role in the choreography.  Scott also directs a church choir at St. Luke’s in Lacrosse.  He is a former member of the Onalaska Show Choir.  Derek Ostrem is also currently attending the University of Wisconsin- LaCrosse.  He will be receiving a degree in May in Biomedical Science with a chemistry minor.  Derek has worked at Six Flags Theme Parks in Chicago, New Jersey, and St. Louis.  He sings and dances during the summer and attends school during the fall.  He has helped choreograph some of the shows that he has been in, and he will serve as the main choreographer for the show.  Both of these two have done this before.  They both had a lot of success working with the seventh grade show choir last year.
THE MUSIC:

The sixth grade show choir is going to perform at least four different musical selections this year.  They are going to start off with the selection "Ease on Down the Road" from the movie the Wiz  which features Michael Jackson and Dianna Ross.  The sixth graders will then slow things down with the ballad "Somewhere out There."  They will then take us more new-age with the song "Feeling Alive."  Finally, the sixth grade show choir will end their show with a fifties medley that includes the songs
  "Rock Around the Clock," Rockin’ Robin," "The Peppermint Twist," and "Blueberry Hill."  The dances for all of these songs will vary. The dances will be  They will include hip-hop, swing dancing, doo-wop, and some more technical dances.  This type of dancing will be much more enjoyable for the kids
 more up to date.  The sixth graders are not going to be cute anymore.  They’re going to be good

  FEES:
There is a $25 dollar fee to participate in the Onalaska Sixth Grade Show Choir.  This fee goes toward paying the salaries of the directors, and for entering the kids into various competitions around the area. 
Schedule of Events:
The show choir will have rehearsal twice a week.  One rehearsal will be held every Tuesday and one every Thursday. School in the dance studio and run from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Each child is require to

Dress Requirements: 
            Guys:                                                                                     Girls:
     Black pants, socks and shoes                                    Green spaghetti strap shirt
     White T-shirt                                                             Black shoes, socks and jazz pants
      Blue Dress Shirt                                                       Poodle skirt
    
  Performances:
1) Fall Festival
2) Christmas Show
3)   Show Choir Classic
4)   Logan Class Act Competition
5)   End of the year Cabaret
* a competition at Holmen may also be added to the agenda


Parents are always more than welcome to attend any practice or competition that the sixth grade show choir will be performing at.  Parents are also encouraged to express any opinions or suggestions to the directors.  This may help to make the show better.  The primary concern is the children.  The intent of this program is to make music and dancing an enjoyable experience for both the children and the parents.  In order for that to occur, the choir needs intense involvement from both.  If parents and students are willing to put in the time, the sixth grade show choir has the possibility to be amazing.