Swing Sing a shining example of arts education importance

SARAH ABBOTT/South Charleston

Capital High School’s Voices in Perfection was one of eight show choirs that performed at the annual Swing Sing, a non-competitive showcase of Kanawha County high school show choirs.

By Sarah Abbott
South Charleston High School

Swing Sing is an annual event held at the Charleston Municipal Auditorium that showcases the talent of Kanawha County high school show choirs. It’s not a contest, so it gives the participants a chance to demonstrate their skills to an audience of hundreds in a noncompetitive atmosphere.

This year, eight schools participated, featuring themes ranging from love to medicine to winter wonderland. The choirs were the South Charleston High School Chorale, which opened the show, the George Washington Chamber Singers, Sissonville’s Touch of Class, Riverside’s Voices-N-Harmony, the Nitro Showcats, the Herbert Hoover High Impact, Capital’s Voices in Perfection and the Saint Albans Classix.

After a short introduction, the curtains opened at 2:30 p.m. and the South Charleston show choir ran onstage, accompanied by music from the 1940s. The 32nd Annual Swing Sing had begun.

One of the day’s more interesting themes — medicine — came from the Nitro Showcats. The group’s comic and dramatic songs featured an alarmingly blasé doctor, a maniacal dentist and a caveman-era witch doctor in a loincloth.

And speaking of costumes, many groups had beautiful ones. St. Albans and Herbert Hoover’s outfits were especially pretty. Many of the groups also featured complicated choreography that included lifts and, in some cases, gymnastics.

However, the main focus was on the singing, and in that regard, the groups did not disappoint. The songs were varied, from Britney Spears’ “Toxic” to love ballads and Christmas jingles. Many schools also featured soloists.

Vocally, St. Albans, South Charleston and Capital seemed to be the crowd favorites, but all the schools were well represented and each had its own area where it shone.

In Swing Sing, each school had 15 minutes to set up, perform and take down its set. Because of this time constraint, most schools selected three songs from their much longer regular show to perform.

Every choir had a different theme, and each consecutive show was something new and creative. The show ran for two and a half hours, and the time just flew.

In there is ever any doubt about the importance of keeping arts education in classrooms, Kanawha County school officials should look no further than Swing Sing. The students and directors are dedicated and talented, often practicing in the summer and/or on weekends to prepare for performances.

Swing Sing annually offers audiences a chance to enjoy an afternoon of various musical styles in a comfortable setting. It’s become a Charleston tradition, and it’s a swinging good time for all involved!