Nationwide A-cappella Contest Becomes Teaching Tool for Local High School Choir

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | October 15, 2015

Contact: Corey Axler, caxler@crsd.org

Even losing means winning. That’s the mantra of Corey Axler, director of the choir at Council Rock High School South shortly after completing what he thought would be an arduous task.

In August 2015 Priya Ghosh, a senior member of CR-South’s South Vocal Ensemble (SVE), approached Axler about competing in Macy’s “All School A Cappella Challenge,” with three $25,000 grand prizes awarded to an elementary/middle school, high school and college level group and a chance to meet the world-renowned a cappella group Pentatonix as added incentive. Axler was apprehensive at the additional work it would mean for him and the student members, but after a quick informal poll found that every student wanted to put in the work and participate.

With many contest guidelines to follow, the Council Rock students set out to record the song and write, direct, film and edit a required music video by the deadline of October 9. Students learned and recorded Axler’s arrangement of The Jackson 5’s hit “I Want You Back” written specifically for the contest. Amanda Kruse, a Council Rock South senior member of the group and aspiring video production major, directed and edited the music video which sees the students performing the song on a movie theater screen while watching the movie as couples in the audience.

“Filming was a blast,” said Axler, “The students loved the process and got into their characters with ease.” Adhering to contest specific rules on length and limitations on branding, the three minute video was uploaded to YouTube and linked to the Macy’s contest page. In one week, it’s had over 3500 views.

“I have no idea who this group is, but you guys are absolutely incredible!” says one comment on the YouTube video from Dawson Nunner. The Council Rock High School South SVE is no stranger to local and national choir competitions and is frequently heard during MORE101’s annual Christmas Choir Competition. They’ve been selected for airplay every year since that contest’s inception…but have never won.

For Axler, the competition is exciting but the learning process is what is important. “It’s never about the winning,” said Axler. “It’s about trying something new and taking a new journey together.”

About SVE:

The South Vocal Ensemble is an auditioned mixed choral group that performs a wide variety of music ranging from 14th century works to contemporary pop and jazz compositions. The group is comprised of 28 ninth through twelfth grade students of Council Rock High School South. Under the direction of Corey Axler, the ensemble rehearses two hours a week after school or in the evenings. The ensemble performs at numerous community functions, competitions, and adjudications across the Delaware Valley as well as abroad and consistently receives superior ratings at local and national choral adjudications. The group has also had the wonderful opportunity to recently sing for and with award-winning a cappella groups, The Bobs, Take 6, and Straight No Chaser. South Vocal Ensemble has been a finalist four years running in the B101 Christmas Choir Competition and has performed at the White House for the past four years. Last March they hosted Tony Award-winning singer and Disney Voice artist, Lea Salonga, in a vocal workshop and had the opportunity to perform with her!

Link to video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LazPRC6lfs

Link to Macy’s contest channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuiNpkaS6YocSshWBa03S_Q