![Bass Clef Choir members Zion Ondoma, Henry Hansen, and Zerik Nicholson harmonize vocals while singing "Prayer of the Children". “[It’s] a piece dealing with the Bosnian conflicts of the ‘90s,” said Associate Director of Choral Activities Matthew Jensen, “but is applicable to what's happening today all over the world.” The students will perform the song during Large Group Contests in Cedar Falls in May.](https://riverhawkpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260414_111618-1200x554.jpg)
Auditions for the annual Follies performance took place this Wednesday and Thursday. A variety of students auditioned skits and musical solos and ensembles for the chance to perform in the variety show in mid February. The list of accepted performances was posted Friday afternoon.
Auditions are judged by choir concil-members Michael Johnson, Sam Schwarz, Kayla Eide, Sofia Ahari, and Kaitlyn Thangaraj.
“[There were] a lot of great talents this year, a lot of diversity in all the acts,” said Thangaraj. “I think everyone did a great job.”
“The hardest part was genuinely, like, scoring,” she added. “It’s so hard to like, numerically rank something that you see in person.”
Follies performances will start the 12th of February at NIACC, with additional shows on the following Saturday and Sunday.
“Follies is such an amazing experience,” said Berlin Iles, a choir member who also auditioned for parts in several additional acts. “From skits to solos it’s such a unique way to showcase everyone’s talent!”
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A list of performances accepted into Follies was posted after school on Friday.
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Riley Kittleson and Elsie Giere chat before their audition for “Slipping Through My Fingers” with the choir senior girls on Thursday night. “Follies auditions are stressful,” said Kittleson. “You never know what they’re going to think of your act. But perseverance is key and no matter what be confident.”
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Students congregate outside the practice room to warm up with pianist Molly Gerrietts. “Every year I am blown away at the talent that comes out of these MCHS students,” said Gerrietts. “The amount of courage and work that goes into the audition process is incredible. It’s the absolute best time of the year!!!”
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Senior KaeZiera Shackleton reviews her music before her audition for the senior girls’ ensemble Thursday night.
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Members of the senior girls’ ensemble and Danzers congregate in the hallway before their audition times.
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Danzer Berlin Iles checks the audition schedule amid racks of choir performance dresses.
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Students crowd the music department hallway as acceptance lists are posted after school Friday.
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Potential performers anxiously check the results list Friday afternoon after the accepted acts were released.
