Rhapsody in Blue finishes second at the Esperanza Spectacular

Rhapsody in Blue finished second overall at the Esperanza Spectacular at El Dorado High School on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Placement is based on two scores: the overall score and placement scores. The overall score is made up of 40% show and 60% vocal. Show entails all aspects of the Rhapsody in Blue performance that are not part of the vocal score, such as choreography and expression. The placement score is given by a panel of judges. 

“You know you always say there’s more you can do, but I think we did really well. The girls were working down to the bone. We did a rehearsal where if they made a single mistake, they had to restart and do it all over again until they got it down,” choir director Andrew Perez said. “It’s all in the details, and that’s what the judges are looking for. They will nitpick everything, every little detail. It’s about putting in character, your facials, having fun and telling the story.”

Rhapsody in Blue has been practicing since September of last year during class, Fridays after school, choice tutorials and some Saturdays after school. They allocate days completely to voice and some completely to show. 

“We actually split it into voice rehearsals during class and we have dance and choreography during Fridays after class,” sophomore Lyla Friedl said. “I felt pretty confident when I went into the performance, and I just felt strong.”

Through their performances, Rhapsody in Blue continues to grow closer and not only perform better through teamwork, but foster a sense of family. 

“The most prominent thing in our group is community,” junior Ava Mattar said. “So if we ever mess up, we are always there to encourage each other. It’s just really fun to be able to express yourself with people that you love working with on stage.”

Whether it be polishing certain notes or dance moves, or focusing more-so on facials, Rhapsody in Blue strives to improve. Against strong competition, Rhapsody in Blue still managed to contend well and wishes to compete at the same high level in the future. 

“I’m very proud of them, and I think they’re very happy from the way they reacted. It was an overall, really great experience and we grew a lot in just a week,” Perez said. “I’m hopeful to see where we go next. We’re competing against some of the best show choirs in Southern California. To put ourselves on that stage is definitely a risk, but it’s a fun one and it reaches rewards when you work hard.”