On April 18 and 19, the BVH Bolles Theater was packed with friends and family of the BVH Vocal Music Department (VMD) members for their evening showcase. The event is an annual performance in which members of VMD can arrange and perform a song of their liking, as well as perform the competition sets for Sound Unlimited and Music Machine. The event is held towards the end of the school year and aims to put a spotlight on the hard work VMD has put into competing throughout the year.
“Our evening showcase is a two-night event where we get to show off the talent behind [VMD] here at BVH, where Music Machine and Sound Unlimited perform their festival competition sets. We [also] have some wonderful soloists and group acts,” Assistant Director and senior Trevor Braaten said.
Although VMD has held this showcase every year for over a decade, this year was particularly special for BVH seniors such as Braaten. He shares the significance of this performance as he nears the end of his participation in VMD.
“I had a lot of feelings because it’s my last evening showcase. It was a mix of adrenaline and a little bit of sadness. It was more or less, ‘I’m happy that I’m doing this but sad it’s my last’,” Braaten said.
A standout moment in the show was when Braaten, alongside Music Machine member and sophomore Lorenzo Malatag, performed a group performance of “I’m Just Ken” from the movie Barbie with all the male members of Music Machine. This performance was loved by audience members who erupted into laughter when Malatag emerged singing from the right side of the audience in a pair of sunglasses and a fur coat at the start of the number.
“I wanted to do a boys’ number because usually, whenever boys do a number, it’s supposed to be funny. I wanted to try it this year because I’ve watched a lot of funny numbers and I watched Barbie. Barbie was really funny so I thought the crowd would like it,” Malatag said.
According to Braaten, the audience plays a significant role in the success of a performance. For example, he shares how having a bigger audience on the second night of the showcase gave their performances more energy.
“I feel like because we had a much fuller house tonight than we did our first night, our energy was just a lot higher because as a group we feed off of the audience’s energy. Whatever they give us, we give back to them,” Braaten said.
While performances like “I’m Just Ken” make it clear the audience enjoyed the showcase, the event was also memorable for VMD members like sophomore Makenzie Koeppen. She shares how the people surrounding her during and after the event made it a rewarding experience.
“For me, my favorite part was being with the people I care about the most. After the show, seeing my family and friends who came to watch–it was nice to know that people like to watch me and they like to come watch my friends,” Koeppen said.
Although this is Braaten’s last time performing at the annual evening showcase, it is not his last time leaving an impact on VMD, as he hopes to return as a part of the creative team. Ultimately, Braaten sees this showcase as a reflection of VMD’s successful competition season, which he hopes to see continue after he leaves.
“I have a personal goal for myself, which is to come back and be a choreographer or artistic director for the department. And I just hope next year Music Machine and Sound Unlimited keep doing great, keep getting their first places and their second places at competitions throughout the year and just do amazing,” Braaten said.
