Magic in the music

During the hours of intense practice, members of the Waltham High School show choir say they've become a family.

"It's just so much bonding and togetherness," said Dawn Robards, 18. "It's not just singing and dancing on stage. There's some kind of energy that holds us together."

Thirty-three members of Music Unlimited, the school's show choir, 14 members of the show band, the choir's musical accompaniment, and five technical crew members will be traveling today to Los Angeles.

They compete tomorrow against six other show choirs in a national competition hosted by Fame events at the LaMirada Theatre. Fame holds national show choir showcases across the country.

Performing synchronized song and dance routines, the Waltham show choir will attempt to place in the top four during the preliminary rounds of the competition.

"I think we're going to make the top four," Robards said. "We've worked our hardest, and if we don't make it, we're in it for fun. It's not the competition."

They will then compete for the grand championship. Prizes include trophies in several categories of performance.

At Robinson Theater at the high school yesterday, show choir director Christopher Landis carefully critiqued the group's performance a final rehearsal. Choreographed song and dance routines included selections from Stevie Wonder and U2.

"The energy was so intense," Landis told the group. "That's exactly what you have to do on Friday."

This is the first year that Landis has directed the group. Former teacher Johanne McIvor founded Music Unlimited in the 1980s.

"I am a very theatrical person and one of my favorite things to do is direct musicals," Landis said. "I'm always kind of let down when a show is ending. What I get to do in this job is utilize all of my talents and I get to do that all year long."

Landis is finishing a theatre education degree at Emerson College in Boston.

On Jan. 19, the Waltham show choir won the title of grand champion at the Mill City Show Choir Festival at Lowell High School.

On Feb. 2, the choir won a gold medal and the award for best show after competing in the Central Massachusetts Show Choir Festival at Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley.

"We get to inspire people. You don't get to see things like this when you go other places," said choir member Jessica Lee Annis, 17. "It's not just singing and dancing, it's not just for watching. It's like going to a concert and we make you a part of the show."

Landis said members of the show band and technical crew are also crucial to their performance.

"We make sure everything gets on stage and set up the scenery during the show," said technical crew member Ross Logan, 17. "We have to get everything on stage in five minutes and off stage in five minutes."

Senior Michael Tortola, 18, has played piano in the show band for the past four years.

"Our band is very good," he said. "We've won several competitions for the band. I'm really pleased with that."

Thomas Vezeau, 17, plays drums in the band.

"I got involved my sophomore year. All of my friends were in it so I took a shot at it and just stuck with it," he said. "It's wicked fun and I enjoy being around all of my friends."

Choir member Vatche Melkonin, 17, said the experience is different than other extracurricular options at Waltham High.

"It's a lot more closeness, it's a lot more family," he said. "The magic is when it comes together on stage."

Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or jgilbrid@cnc.com