Daniel Hand's Vibe Show Choir to Compete for Grand Championship

Written by Lauren Thierry, Special to Madison Patch

MADISON, CT — After taking 1st Place or 1st Runner Up in every regional show choir competition this winter, it’s finally time for Daniel Hand’s “VIBE” to show their stuff nationally, when they compete in Nashville later this month.

A send-off concert at 7:30pm Friday, March 16 will serve as both a pep rally for the cast of VIBE, as well as a final fundraiser for their 3-day journey to Nashville. Hand Show Choir alum Matt Gregory, who has launched his own musical career in New York City, will make a guest appearance at the March 16 show as well.

The 75 elite singers, dancers, musicians and stage crew who go by the name, VIBE, will go up against the nation’s best show choirs on the Grand Ole Opry stage March 23 and 24. VIBE’s theme this year, “Masquerade,” was conceived and directed by Hand Musical Director Ron Soja.

“Masquerade” showcases seven songs woven together, sung, danced and instrumentally performed by the student cast and band. A student stage crew that builds and arranges the elegant sets, also travels with the cast and is considered a vital part of the VIBE team.

Aidan Gaffney and VIBE cast

“We will be competing against the best show choirs in the nation,” said Hand’s Soja. “And we are singing better now than we did a year ago.”

That’s saying a lot, considering Hand’s superlative track record: VIBE first competed at nationals in 2012 and finished 14th. In 2015 they finished 9th. In 2016 they finished 5th.

Soja’s goal: “To finish in the top 3 on March 24, 2018.”

A lofty goal, but the cast is all in; practicing 4 to 24 hours a week – happily -- for “Soj” – the nickname director Soja has gone by for his 18 years at Hand.

“Soj is a great motivator and mentor -- musically, and in helping me become a leader. I don’t know where’d I’d be without him,” says Hand Junior Tucker Rathke, who's been winning musical competitions under “Soj” since he was a freshman.

“Show choir is definitely a grind,” says Hand Senior Erik Mathews. “It takes a lot of time and practice to perfect everything. But the best thing that ever happened to me was getting into the group. It’s worth it in the end.”

That relentless grind, since last August, of hitting just the right chord, then hitting the road for hours to compete regionally, has clearly produced some tight performing chops: Hand has racked up two New England wins and two 1st Runner-ups since December.

The group’s first reward may well be plunking their heads down on pillows at the famed Opryland Resort, after a 4-hour flight to Atlanta then a 4-hour bus ride to Nashville on March 22.

“We can’t wait to meet other kids from other show choirs from all over the country,” says Junior VIBE cast member Julia Reel. “Participating in the Nashville competition gives us national exposure and connections we’d never be able to make on our own."

But the true reward will performing up on the Grand Ole Opry stage, starting Friday, March 23, with the finals on Saturday, March 24.

“What a rush of adrenaline,” says Rathe, of performing at the Opry. “The crowd starts cheering once you walk on stage. It motivates me to go all out during every second of performance.”

VIBE soloists Abby Gautrau, Ricki Klaskin, Kassidy Keirstead, Julia Rumberger

Among the show’s standouts are the trio of Abby Gautrau, Julia Rumberger and Kassidy Keirstead; as well as soloists Aidan Gaffney and Riki Klaskin.

“The students are pretty self-motivated, says director Soja. “They all totally going for it!”

Photo Credits: Lynn Lunn, Georgeanne Keirstead