One Song Show Choir Festival offers chance for some Alle-Kiski choirs to show their stuff

Highlands High School hosted musical theater students from four Alle-Kiski Valley school districts April 27 for the annual One Song Show Choir Festival.

Highlands, Freeport Area, Springdale and Kiski Area choirs participated.

Song performances included “Cruisin for a Bruisin’,” “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” “The Greatest Show,” “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” and “A Million Dreams.”

The show returned after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic.

Each show choir performed three songs, and all choirs convened onstage for the grand finale performance of “One Song,” composed by Marvin Hamlisch.

“Now more than ever we need to be celebrating and honoring the good of each district,” Highlands musical director Michael Zeiler said.

Zeiler complimented the students for their musical gifts and unifying in song to offer a free concert for the community.

“These students deserve so much praise for the goodness in their hearts and music in their soul,” Zeiler said. “The Alle-Kiski directors inspire this generation to ‘pay their teachings forward,’ and that is why an evening like this is so important.”

The festival began in 1992.

Freeport Area High School sophomore Madlin Burnheimer said it was amazing to return to the stage after a two-year break from in-person performing.

“Everybody had a great song lineup,” Burnheimer said. “It was fantastic to be able to sit with my friends (when not onstage ourselves) to watch and dance along in our seats to the awesome singers.”