A Race to the Finish: Performing Songs Learned in Only 24 Hours

By Cage Evinger

A crowd gathered in Whitsons at The Stood on the evening of April 4 to hear the Crescendo show choir perform songs prepared in only 24 hours that encapsulate the feel of the fast-approaching summertime.

Ruby Hentoff began the show with “Summer in Ohio” from "The Last Five Years." (Photo by Cage Evinger)

Crescendo is a show choir that presents auditioned performers at various showcases throughout the year. Their most recent performance on March 1 was a showcase of duets featuring performers who had their partners chosen randomly. With this show, the goal was to pick, prepare and perform a song in only 24 hours.

“There’s something that my high school does, where they put on an entire 24-hour musical,” said Alex Del Cueto, the director of Crescendo, when asked about what inspired the event. “What if we did a 24-hour showcase for Crescendo?”

"We didn’t know what the theme was gonna be, so we couldn’t prepare songs,” continued Del Cueto. "We spent Spring Break coming up with possible themes for us to spin on a wheel.” Eventually the group landed on songs of the summer, looking for the feeling of when you’re driving with the windows down and the wind in your hair.

Regulus Thompson smiling as the audience sings along. (Photo by Cage Evinger)

With 11 performances, including two duets and songs ranging from childhood favorites like “Bet on It” from "High School Musical 2" to more modern pop classics like Chappell Roan’s “Casual,” the room was on fire with uproarious applause. Throughout the entire evening, the audience would sing and clap along with the performers.

The preparation was “so scary and stressful,” described freshman Madeline Laurens, a performer in the show. “I’ve got to get my lyrics down. I’ve got to get my dance moves down.”

However, these performers were still able to enjoy themselves. “Even if we didn’t get all our words right,” said freshman Vae Rubins, who performed a duet with Dan DeChristopher, “we had a fun time.”

Alvarez Pickett finished out the show. (Photo by Cage Evinger)

The “energy was infectious in there; everyone was so supportive of each other,” said freshman Lena Flamm, an audience member. Everyone was “all up in dramatics; I love that.”

The show choir’s next performance will be on May 2 and will follow the theme of legends, myths and fairytales.