Los Alamitos to Erupt in Song This Weekend

This weekend, Los Alamitos High School will host the eighth annual Xtravaganza Choir Competition, one of the largest competitions in the nation, featuring more than 40 high school choirs.

Most of the choirs participating in the two-day competition come from throughout California, but it also draws competitors from other states,  such as Arizona and Missouri. The competition will help raise money for the Los Alamitos High School songsters to compete for the national title in New York next month. As last year’s champion, Los Alamitos is the team to beat this year.

An estimated 2,500 students and their families will attend this weekend’s competition. It’s “one of the largest choir show competitions in the nation,” said coordinator Laura Williams.

Michelle Anthony, a Los Alamitos High School junior and three-year choir member, has helped host Xtravaganza for two years and says it’s an event she looks forward to because it allows her to see choir competitions from a different perspective.

“We always go to compete, but now we see all the effort it takes to make the competition,” Anthony said.

She also says that part of the fun of Xtravaganza is meeting new people who share the same interests.

“You’d never think there are so many people who share the same passion as you for performing,” she said.

Xtravaganza will be held Friday and Saturday, with the Friday performances commencing at 2:50 p.m. Saturday’s activities will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday evening’s divisions are sold out, but tickets for other divisions are still available. Tickets are $10 each.

Among the categories for competition are junior high beginners, beginner men and women, intermediate men and women and advanced men and women.
Food will be available for purchase throughout the event and will feature BBQ plates, such as pulled pork and tri-tip sandwiches, cheeseburgers, hot dogs and fried chicken.

The event is still looking for personal or company donors wish to donate trophies or items such as water and soft drinks for the event. If you’re interested in donating, please contact Laura Williams at lauriwilliams35@hotmail.com.

All proceeds from Xtravaganza will benefit the Los Alamitos High School Choir Booster’s club, which helps the choir pay for transportation and arrangement costs as they travel to compete throughout the nation. Specifically, some of the funds raised will pay for the choir’s trip to New York City’s National Finale competition next month. As part of the competition, the Los Alamitos High School Choir will sing in Times Square.

For more information about the Xtravaganza, visit lahsxtravaganza.com/.