As spectators enjoy the 21st Annual Midwest Classic Show Choir competition in Danville this weekend there will be an army of volunteers working behind the scenes. Some have been pitching in for weeks getting ready for the event which this year involves 35 show choir groups from three states.
Shawn Owen and Robert Powell are two of the volunteers (shown in photo). They were preparing signs at Danville High School Friday to help direct spectators, traffic and performers. Owen says volunteers fill a lot of rolls for the event. ‘’It takes a lot of people, working hard – very late nights – to get everything ready from the sound, to the stage, to the lighting and everything associated with it. But we all enjoy what we do – even though it’s a lot of long hours. We enjoy it, and getting everything ready to have a wonderful competition,’’ said Owen during an interview with VermilionCountyFirst.com News. ‘’You know we have over 35 groups that will be coming in here to the Midwest Classic this year.’’
Owen has children involved in both the North Ridge Middle School Red Coats and Danville High School’s Contemporaires. ‘’This is actually my first year at the high school. I have enjoyed working with Mr. Mercer this year (DHS Choral Director Mark Mercer), and of course we also enjoy working with the Woodrows up at North Ridge (Middle School) for their show choirs up there. And it will be exciting this year because we’re also bringing ‘The Green Machine’ from South View (Upper Elementary School) here. So we’ll have great exhibition teams here representing Danville and it’ll be a good time for everyone to come out, too,’’ said Owen.
The Middle School competition at the Midwest Classic Show Choir Competition begins at 5:00 p.m. today (Friday)…..and the high school competition begins at 8:00 a.m. Saturday (February 4th) in the Dick Van Dyke Auditorium at Danville High School. It runs until late Saturday night.
