The beat is back at AHS

Published 8:14 am Thursday, April 12, 2012

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The Austin High School Austinaires and Choralaires are going out with a beat.

The annual AHS Austinaires show promises plenty of upbeat, uptempo music as the choirs perform “We Got the Beat!” this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

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“This is a culmination of their performances,” said AHS choir teacher Brian Johnson.

The audience can expect many big standards of the past 30 to 40 years, along with some contemporary material full of excitement. The show will open with a rendition of The Go-Gos “We Got the Beat.” There’s going to be some older Michael Jackson (think Jackson 5) mixed with newer Michael Jackson, along with a smattering of Justin Bieber and the Lion King thrown in.

Of course, each year’s show acts as a send-off to hardworking seniors, who will have solos to perform.

“It’s definitely exciting,” said AHS senior Dylan Kaercher. “This is a show that since kindergarten I’ve been planning for.”

Kaercher plans to do a medley of several musical numbers he has performed over the years. He said his family helped plan his performance as well. Yet for Kaercher and the other Austinaires and Choralaires, this show is going to be a little more lively than usual.

“This year there’s a lot more dancing,” Kaercher said. AHS students have stretched their talents this year to do more with choreography and costumes, according to Johnson. The students seem excited to showcase their skills, as well.

“It’s been a lot of fun to put it together,” said AHS junior Jasmine Hultgren.

Though the AHS seniors will soon graduate, their leadership will be missed, according to Johnson. There were many seniors who left the choir department last year, but the quality of each choir remained high, thanks in part to this year’s senior crew, Johnson said.

The show will start at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at AHS’s Christgau Hall. Tickets are $6 in advance and $7 at the door for adults, $4 in advance and $5 at the door for senior citizens and students. Tickets are available at AHS and Hy-Vee.