Carlsbad High School Student Named Sound Express’s 'Best Performer' at Show Choir Competition!

High school senior Steven Dreifuss, the lead character in Sound Express, Carlsbad High School’s advanced mixed choir, was awarded “Best Performer” in his group by the judges at the Los Alamitos Xtravaganza show choir competition on Saturday, March 22, in Los Alamitos. Steven’s dramatic role as “Robin Hood” in the 17-minute set highlights his solo and partner dancing, which undoubtedly helped him secure his medal. 

Xtravaganza is the fifth of seven competitions Sound Express will participate in this season. This year’s set is a contemporary riff on Robin Hood - choreographed by Damon Brown, Carrie Smith, John Marlow, Kyle Campbell, and Christina Campbell – which explores conflicts in the caste system and celebrates the strength of the underdog.  The choir practices and perfects its contemporary songs and complex choreography continually between competitions. Judges score each group on musicianship (vocal tone, intonation, diction, interpretation, dynamics) and showmanship (creativity, execution, difficulty, precision, visual effect).

Carlsbad High School’s choral director, Mr. Jessie Bullock, has worked extremely hard to highlight the best in his students and to instill the desire to improve with each opportunity. He brings a wealth of experience, energy and enthusiasm to the CHS choral family. His background includes two years at Burbank High School – a well-known show choir school that inspired the TV series “Glee,” and three years implementing a brand new program from the ground up at Ontario High School. Mr. Bullock directs all four choirs at Carlsbad High School: Sound Express (advanced mixed show choir), Encore (intermediate women’s show choir), Chamber Singers (advanced mixed choir), and Lancer Choir (beginning mixed choir).

There are two competitions left in this show choir season: Burroughs Music Showcase on April 12th in Burbank, CA and SoCal – the Southern California Show Choir Invitational at Golden Hall in San Diego, CA on April 18th. In May, all CHS choir students will focus on their spring POPS performance, open to the public at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center May 29-30.  Tickets will be available at the box office.

Carlsbad High School’s choral program is one of the few remaining programs in all of San Diego County and strives to promote awareness, appreciation, and expression of the arts in the community. Donations are always appreciated.  More information can be found at chschoral.com.

The Carlsbad Choral Boosters is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (tax ID 30-0208051).