Carlsbad High School Choral Student, Erica Schwartz, named Encore's "Best Performer" at Los Alamitos Competiton.

Erica Schwartz, a second year student in Encore, Carlsbad High School’s women’s intermediate choir, was “shocked but thrilled” to be named “Best Performer” in her group by the judges at the Los Alamitos Xtravaganza show choir competition on Saturday, March 22, in Los Alamitos, CA. Her role as “the new girl” in Encore’s 17-minute set based on the film “Mean Girls” captivated the judges and garnered Ms. Schwartz the award. Encore brought home a 2nd place trophy among the seven high schools competing in their division.

Xtravaganza is the third of five competitions Encore will participate in this season. Encore’s set, “Mean Girls,” choreographed by Damon Brown, Carrie Smith, and John Marlow, explores the challenges of finding your place among the jocks, the cheerleaders, the Goths and the nerds at a new high school. The themes are familiar, the songs are contemporary, the costumes are apropos, but it’s the dancing and singing the judges really focus on. Judges score each group on musicianship (vocal tone, intonation, diction, interpretation, dynamics) and showmanship (creativity, execution, difficulty, precision, visual effect).

Carlsbad High School’s choral director, Mr. Jessie Bullock, has worked extremely hard to highlight the best in his students and to instill the desire to improve with each opportunity. He brings a wealth of experience, energy and enthusiasm to the CHS choral family. His background includes two years at Burbank High School – a well-known show choir school that inspired the TV series “Glee,” and three years implementing a brand new program from the ground up at Ontario High School. Mr. Bullock directs all four choirs at Carlsbad High School: Sound Express (advanced mixed show choir), Encore (intermediate women’s show choir), Chamber Singers (advanced mixed choir), and Lancer Choir (beginning mixed choir).

There are two competitions left in this show choir season: Burroughs Music Showcase on April 12th in Burbank, CA and SoCal – the Southern California Show Choir Invitational at Golden Hall in San Diego, CA on April 18th. In May, all CHS choir students will focus on their spring POPS performance, open to the public at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center May 29-30.  Tickets will be available at the box office.

Carlsbad High School’s choral program is one of the few remaining programs in all of San Diego County and strives to promote awareness, appreciation, and expression of the arts in the community. Donations are always appreciated.

 The Carlsbad Choral Boosters is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (tax ID 30-0208051) Carlsbad High School Choral Boosters, P.O. Box 92, Carlsbad, CA 92008-0092 www.CHSChoral.com