The Debtones, a Center Grove choir, perform at the Heart of America competition in Orlando Saturday. The choir won National Grand Champions in the Large Unisex Division.
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When the national champions were named at Orlando’s Heart of America National Competition Saturday, two Center Grove choirs were left standing.
The Debtones and Center Grove Sound System both took home Grand National Champion awards this weekend for their performances, which drew inspiration from the 1975 musical, “Chicago” and the 1972 movie, “The Godfather,” respectively.
CG Singers placed as First Runner Up in the Concert Choir Division.
Ryan St. Pierre, a junior member of Sound System, which won National Grand Champion in the Large Mixed Division, took home Best Male Soloist in a show. He joined choir in middle school but hadn’t won an award as a soloist until last month, when he won Grand Champion in the Solo Competition at the Hoosier Show Choir Classic, he said.
“I got into show choir in middle school because I had two great friends in the program and went to two shows and fell in love immediately,” St. Pierre said. “Since I joined choir in sixth grade, I started getting into musicals. I took voice lessons and it really grew me as a singer. Once I hit high school choir, it made me realize how awesome it really is and grew me as a person, singer and musician. That’s how competitive and outstanding the level of performance is.”
St. Pierre, who played the role of Michael Corleone, the son of the Godfather, sang a piece titled “A King is Born.”
“Our directors are very creative,” St. Pierre said. “No other choir would pick a show like ‘The Godfather.’ Usually, they would do something basic like a topic with songs about the topic, but ours was very complex. It told a whole story and you have an emotional attachment to a show when telling a story rather than singing or dancing about one little topic or word.”
Still, the award came out of left field, he said.
“It was very unexpected for me,” St. Pierre said. “I didn’t see it coming and obviously I’m very happy with myself and that it’s happening. I couldn’t have done it without the support of others around me and everyone in choir.”
The Debtones based their performance on six elements of “Cell Block Tango,” featured in “Chicago.” Those elements include “Pop,” “Six,” “Squish,” “Uh-uh,” “Cicero” and “Lipschitz.” Kennedi Bruner, a senior member of Debtones, performed “Squish,” which centers on her character singing a solo rendition of “I Can Cook Too,” from the production, “On the Town.”
Along with Debtones winning National Grand Champion in the Large Unisex Division, Bruner won Best Female Soloist in a show.
“I really love performing,” Bruner said. “It’s one of my passions and every time, it doesn’t matter where I am, if I’m standing in a choir room, I love singing, dancing, I go full out. I use my face to perform these emotions and express myself. Performing is very fun for me. I love the community of choir and it’s just all of us doing something we love together.”
Though Bruner experiences nervousness from time to time, she said, she was able to overcome that by remembering her talent.
“I always got super nervous before I went on,” Bruner said. “One show, my voice cracked a little. … But then I remember I actually killed this role. I strut up to the mic and give a little smirk when walking on, and I look at the other choirs in the front and my sister cheering for me. It helps build my energy and I am over my nervousness.”
Bruner is grateful to be finishing her high school career on such a high note, with the performance of her life thus far, she said.
“It is absolutely fantastic,” Bruner said. “I’m very honored to finish with this, because not only did I win best soloist, my choir won National Grand Champion, and I am one of the student leaders of the choir. It’s a very proud moment for me after my group of girls was able to feel the joy and happiness of hard work paying off.”
