Tuscola High School Chamber and Summit Choirs will present the 33rd Annual Country Western Show in the Tuscola High School Auditorium on March 20 and 21 at 7:00 pm and Sunday March 22 at 3:00 pm.
Maggie Jennings, the new choral director at THS is excited about the upcoming show and says, “These Summit kids are unique. They have rallied like I’ve never seen before. Their spirit is alive and vibrant, and we are making a comeback!”
The theme for this year’s show is “Country Comeback.” Summit is bringing back many memories from shows past as a celebration of the people and the spirit that is so unique to the choral program and Tuscola High School.
Alumni might even see themselves on the big screen. “We have priceless video recordings of past shows that we’ll be presenting snippets of throughout the show,” Jennings said. “Audience members will enjoy reprises of ‘Home’ (Alan Billingsly) and the Soggy Bottom favorite ‘I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow’ among others. Summit is also learning two group numbers straight from shows of the late 90’s.
In addition, Summit members will be singing individual selections of their own choosing. Some feel a special connection with the lyrics, or they are singing the song as a tribute to a family member. In many cases however, the songs are just plain fun!
This year’s theme is especially meaningful to this year’s Summit seniors. “Summit and the entire Choral Department at Tuscola has always been a ‘family affair,’” says Summit senior Hannah Rae Ferguson. Summit wants to show the Tuscola community that the Summit family is resilient and strong. “We are so grateful for those who have come before us and invested their hearts in the program,” says Jennings. “They have made us who we are today. This year’s Country Western Show is our way of saying thank you.”
The Country Western Show is a long-standing tradition for not only Tuscola High School Choral Department but for the local community as well. Many people come back to see these performances year after year, not just because many have a child, sibling or grandchild onstage but partly because there’s something special about country music. It has the ability to speak to people, no matter what they’re going through. Jennings added, “As a wise person once said, country music doesn’t talk just about the good parts of life. It talks about the tough parts of life also. We hope folks will come and let us encourage them and provide solace from whatever they’re going through. It’s our way of giving back, and we are so excited for this year’s show!”