Singer, like choir, shows hard work does pay off
Photo
Kerstina Aldrich rehearses along with other members of the Craig High School Spotlighters Show Choir for their trip to New York on Saturday to compete in the National Freedom Festival. The group will give its last performance of the year Wednesday at Craig High School at 7:30 p.m.
JANESVILLE — Kerstina Aldrich’s failure started her on the path to success.
She auditioned for Craig High School’s Spotlighters Show Choir, but her dancing skills were not up to snuff.
“I didn’t take it as hard as some people did,” she recalled. “Some people cried.”
That was in her freshman year. Aldrich didn’t give up. She signed on as part of the Spotlighters’ crew. And she took dance lessons.
The next year, she made the cut.
Aldrich’s show-stopping voice won her five solo competitions over the past two years, and she was named as the outstanding female soloist in a show choir show twice.
The senior’s story parallels the Spotlighters themselves.
The group formed five years ago and has improved greatly since then, as returning veterans bolstered the talent base and the teamwork needed to put together a competitive show, said Bob Schrank, who co-directs the group with fellow choir teacher Karla Vriezen.
This year, the Spotlighters decided to step it up, and their hard work paid off. They had their best year ever, earning a second place, two third places, a fourth place and a sixth place at competitions around the Midwest.
“We are really proud of the students and how hard they have worked to get to this level of competitiveness,” Schrank said.
The group’s seniors, including Aldrich and Matt Imhoff, were key to the group’s success as they exhorted the younger members to bear down or led by example, Schrank said.
“When Matt gets done with a rehearsal or a performance, he’s just dripping wet with sweat because he’s working so hard,” Schrank said.
Imhoff and Aldrich both have dreams of making a career on the stage.
Aldrich plans to attend Harding University in Arkansas, which has the combination she sought: a strong Christian school that also has a strong musical theater program.
But before heading south, Aldrich will to go on a church mission trip, building houses for the homeless in Montana, and she’ll audition for a musical in Wisconsin Dells.
Aldrich possesses a wide range that is remarkable for someone so young, Schrank said. So much so that one show choir judge preceded his review of her performance with “Wow!”
“I think I was just blessed with it,” said Aldrich, who started voice lessons only two months ago.
“She’s a really humble kid,” Schrank said. “For somebody to enter five solo competitions and win all five is really something.”
Aldrich’s favorite part of show choir is the audience’s reactions.
“They come up to me and tell me I made them cry, that I really touched them, and that’s what I do it for, and it’s amazing to have that feeling,” she said. “It makes you want to keep going and going.”
Aldrich said she’s seen Spotlighters crew, musicians and singer-dancers change from being a bit cliquish to a big happy family over the past four years.
“It can be hard for 80 people to get along, but it works, and we all love each other,” she said.
IF YOU GO
What: Last performance of the 2007-08 Craig High School Spotlighters and the All That Jazz vocal ensemble.
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday April 16.
Where: Large auditorium at Craig, 401 S. Randall Ave.
Tickets: $2 adults/$1 students.
Apr 15, 2008 at 12:14 p.m.
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Musical family, must make for some enjoyable family get togethers. So, has Bob gotten the better of Bill at any competitions yet?
Apr 15, 2008 at 10:33 a.m.
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Yes, the Schranks are brothers. We made that connection in a story back in 2005. Also, Ben Schrank, son of Bob, is the Spotlighters' choreographer. If I'm recalling correctly, Ben is a graduate of the Milton program and has choreographed for Milton, not to mention Craig musical theater productions. -- Gazette reporter Frank Schultz
Apr 15, 2008 at 8:14 a.m.
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Is the choir director, Bob Schrank, related to Milton's show choir director (if he still is), Bill Schrank? If so, THAT might be an interesting angle to cover and it would cover both Milton and Janesville's great show choirs.
Apr 15, 2008 at 7:57 a.m.
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Thanks Frank, I did not see that March 12 paper...And, to BigDaddy, the Milton Courier has never advertised itself as an area newspaper. They have always covered only the Milton community, where the Gazette covers Janesville, Milton, Beloit, Evansville, Edgerton and other small towns in Rock County.
Apr 15, 2008 at 7:40 a.m.
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THIS group formed 5 years ago. New directors, new chroreographer, started with no program, no veterans, nothing to pull from. Spotlighters was vocal jazz when they reclaimed the name. No one is offending anyone here, the first Spotlighters showchoir dissolved. What these kids, Kerstina in particular, and their directors have done is what THIS story is about. I have no idea why anyone would be insulted.
Apr 15, 2008 at 6:09 a.m.
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It is really insulting that the Gazette continues to present Spotlighters at "5 years old." As others have commented, the program was deconstructed and turned into a Jazz choir in 97. For all of us who were part of the show choir before 97 and put countless hours into practices, travel, and performances, it's really a poor tribute to have the entire history of Spotlighters ignored. we remember the show choir for what it was. However, to give all the credit to this "new" program is just plain wrong.
Apr 14, 2008 at 7:28 p.m.
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I wonder how many articles the Milton Courier had on the Janesville Craig Spotlighters?
Apr 14, 2008 at 2:13 p.m.
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Please note that on March 12, Page 2A, the Gazette ran a roundup of how the Milton, Janesville, Brodhead and Parkview show choirs fared during the season, as reported by each school. --Gazette reporter Frank Schultz
Apr 14, 2008 at 1:28 p.m.
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I appreciate all the stories, but it would've been nice to read about Milton's accomplishments this year as well as Craig's.
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And, you're right, Kirstena has a great voice. She deserved all the awards she won this year.
Apr 14, 2008 at 12:48 p.m.
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If they would have switched the stories you would have complained they didn't run the story until after the season ended. Thanks Mr. Angus for running both stories.
Apr 14, 2008 at 12:33 p.m.
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January was before the show choir season got started. I'm happy the Spotlighters did well this year, but Choralation in Milton also did really well. They could use some community support just as much as the Spotlighters. It just doesn't seem sometimes the coverage is quite equal.
Apr 14, 2008 at 10:58 a.m.
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The Gazette did a similar feature on Milton's Choralation in January - on Page 1, with several photos.
Scott Angus
Editor
Apr 14, 2008 at 10:52 a.m.
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It's nice to hear the Spotlighters are doing well, but why no mention of Milton's Choralation show choir and the success they had this year. They recently returned from Orland, finishing 2nd in a National Showstoppers competition and followed that up with a 2nd place finish at LaCrosse. I believe they made the final 6 at every competition they attended this year.
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I know the Gazette is based in Janesville. But, since it advertises itself as a community newspaper, how about showing some love to Milton student groups as well.
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Congratulations to both groups on great seasons!
Apr 14, 2008 at 10:34 a.m.
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The Craig Spotlighters used to be a vocal jazz ensemble. The newly formed show choir adopted the Spotlighters name five years ago. Today, the vocal jazz group is called All That Jazz. Apologies for the confusion -- Gazette reporter Frank Schultz
Apr 14, 2008 at 10:16 a.m.
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You people don't get it. the Article is not about when it started, it's about the kids, that are a part of the show choir and where they are at today compared to 5 years ago and their accomplishments.
Apr 14, 2008 at 10:06 a.m.
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Kerstina has one of the most powerful voices I have had the pleasure of hearing. Her range is incredible and her performance in Aida was great as well.
Apr 14, 2008 at 9:50 a.m.
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This is misleading as I was in Spotlighers in 1977. This is when Mr. Lawrence LeFevre was directing. So I am sure the spotlighters name goes back a few yrs.
Apr 14, 2008 at 9:37 a.m.
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The Spotlighters group went on a hiatus, if I'm not mistaken. They were around in the late 90s, but I think the group discontinued practices and performances for a short time. They were most recently revived about 5 years ago. I agree, this report started out a little bit misleading.
Apr 14, 2008 at 9:25 a.m.
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How is it that the Spotlighters group is only "five years old" when the Spotlighters were around when I was in school over 10 years ago AND in my parents' day back in the '70's?
Is the article referring to the group interviewed or in general?
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