The usual audience for the Powell High School Jazz Choir generally consists of parents, siblings, and interested members of the public. However, for a special afternoon, the select spectators of this audition-only group were Powell Middle School.

On Mar. 5, the PHS Erocne Jazz Choir members performed for the PMS sixth through eighth graders during the Cubs’ respective lunches. Singing so-called trendy tunes like Shawn Mendes’s’ “If I Can’t Have You” and Dean Lewis’s “Waves,” representatives of this group agreed that this year’s selection showcased the fun side of the jazz choir.

An additional note was the influence of the student teachers in Ercone. New this year was Mr. Van Slyke and Mr. Wiley, which gave a new perspective to the music department at PHS. While they no longer teach at in the halls of Powell, their influence will be felt for generations to come, and that was shared in PMS.

“Erocne is a place where we get to experiment with different songs,” senior and Secretary of Concert Choir Kolby Crichton said. “We like to choose pieces that get the audience to mouth the words and get us as the choir kids excited to sing it when we hear the piano start playing. I think that side of us [got to show at the middle school].” 

Select members of the choir group spoke in front of the student population at PMS before Eronce sang songs such as “Memories”, “Waves”, “If I Can’t Have You”, “Stand By Me”, and “Mercy.” Of the group, members like seniors Joe Bucher and Jon Hawley expressed their eagerness for the music program. 

“Choir has given me so much,” Bucher said. “We all know that there are so many cool opportunities at the high school, and the music department is something that I hope you all get involved with because we really could use the numbers to get more people excited about music.” 

This type of passion wasn’t just limited to the selection of songs. Ercone instructor and choir teacher Mrs. Rachel Schoessler conveyed her gratitude at the annual Spring High School and Middle School Jazz Concert last week, Mar. 26, in her opening remarks before Ercone took the stage for their closing performance. 

“We were very fortunate to visit the middle school this year,” Mrs. Schoessler said. “After not having the opportunity to the previous year with how busy everyone’s schedule was, getting to sing at PMS was so much fun. We hope that singing to middle school students before they sign up for [main elective] classes got them excited to sing at the high school and even join Ercone.” 

The process to join Ercone may seem intimidating to others, but seasoned veterans explain that the one-on-one audition is something that isn’t too scary. Senior Kinsley Braten, an Ercone member for three years, details how just focusing on the excerpt and feeling comfortable in your environment. 

“The process to audition for me was not scary because I’ve done it before,” Braten said. “Especially when I’m singing in front of Mrs. S.” 

For the performance itself, the impacts won’t be noticed until next year when the auditions are held. But for the expectations of what is to come, the best advice that seems to be given is based on the amount of effort given by the different members that join.

“I have to say the environment is different each year because you have so many different people in this jazz choir,” Braten said. “It is an amazing feeling because when we are all excited we bring the energy up. But the advice I would give to anyone who is in Erocne and who is thinking of doing Erocne is just to remember that you are there to have a fun time and not to forget how much effort you, Mrs. S, and the rest of the group have put into practice and your performances. It is so much fun and don’t let anyone else make you think differently.”