Middle School Show Choir Shines in March Competitions

The Fort Worth Country Day (FWCD) Middle School Show Choir took center stage at two competitions in late February and early March, showcasing their hard work and dedication. Competing at the Lone Star Invitational at Keller High School and the Southlake Showdown at Carroll Senior High School, the show choir earned impressive rankings and received valuable feedback to guide their growth.

This year’s Middle School Show Choir program, Darling, was created by Middle School Choir Director Erin Ypya. It tells a heartfelt story about the magic of childhood, the passage of time, and that growing up is inevitable. Wendy Darling (Charlie Dykes), now grown, is visited by her inner child (Lucy Sell). As she reflects on her adventures in Neverland, she revisits the moments that shaped her, rediscovering the wonder and joy of youth. Through this journey, Wendy realizes that Through this journey, Wendy comes to realize that, though growing up may be bittersweet, it is a path we all must take. The key, she discovers, is to stay young at heart. 

At the Lonestar Invitation, the show choir secured a strong seventh-place finish, missing a trophy by just one point. “It was such a fantastic score,” Ypya said. “We narrowly missed a trophy, which just shows how important those critique notes are. I’m really proud of all the hard work these students have put in.”

At the Southlake Showdown, the choir took on the challenge of performing first in their category, an obstacle that didn’t go unnoticed by the judges. Despite this, they delivered a memorable performance described as “refreshing” for the second time this season. “Judging is always subjective and influenced by so many factors, but our students truly gave everything on that stage,” Ypya said. “One judge even noted that it’s rare to see middle schools take on a story with such depth, which is a huge compliment to everyone involved.”

The students did more than compete at these events: They embraced the culture of show choir. Ypya was heartened that so many of the choir members wanted to say for the duration of the event to watch other schools perform – to cheer them on and to learn from them. They also took part in a tradition called “clipping,” which entails decorating a clothespin with colorful art and words of kindness and then, as secretly as possible,  “clipping” it on someone who makes a difference to you. 

With competition season wrapping up, the show choir is shifting their focus to the upcoming spring concert, which will celebrate the works of Pasek and Paul. Both the seventh and eighth grade groups will be learning new music, and the concert will feature student-choreographed pieces. 

“It’s hard to believe that this story, which started as an idea in my head, has transformed into such a beautiful piece of art thanks to the talent and effort of the performers,” Ypya said. 

As they move forward, the FWCD Middle School Show Choir carries the momentum of their successes and lessons learned, ready to take on new challenges and continue growing as performers.