Doran Johnson, Choral Director and Performing Arts Department Chair at Westside High School (NE), shared his Heart of America competition experiences and how he empowers students to create excellence.
MEET DORAN JOHNSON
I have been teaching choral music for the past 36 years. I spent 10 years in a small district in Iowa and the past 26 at a large high school in Omaha. I grew up doing “swing choir” in the early ’80s and have been a part of it ever since. I attended Show Choir Camps of America as a teenager when it was the “Midwest Summer Show Choir Camp” and eventually returned as a teacher after beginning my career. I have conducted All-State Show Choirs in Missouri and Iowa and have served on the staff of the Nebraska Show Choir Camp since 2005.
SHOW CHOIR AND CONCERT CHOIR LIVE IN HARMONY
We currently have three show choirs in our program. A mixed prep group (Warrior Express), a varsity treble group (Simply Irresistible) and a varsity mixed group (The Amazing Technicolor Show Choir). I inherited all three of these groups when I took over the leadership of the program in 1998. Since then, the numbers have grown and the sizes of the groups have expanded. We also have three separate show bands that accompany our groups. Interest and enthusiasm for show choir are very strong. But we also require students to participate in one of our concert choirs.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Our parents are very involved with the program, especially in fundraising. We prefer to host large events rather than the traditional sales approach. Parents are active in organizing our Cabaret Night concert, our Competition of Excellence and An Evening of Show Choirs.
Parents are involved behind the scenes during the show choir season, helping with costumes, chaperoning overnight trips and helping with the transportation and management of equipment. The dads are proud of their roles on the Dad crew. Show choir is such a great activity for the parents to feel actively engaged with their students. I love that aspect.
TEACHING STUDENTS TO CREATE EXCELLENCE, TOGETHER
I think the biggest thing for me is for students to understand the process of creating excellence. What plays out over the course of a year in a show choir replicates itself in so many other ways in their lives. It teaches kids about persistence and perseverance. It is not something that happens overnight. It teaches them to push through obstacles and limitations.
Show choir is also something they do in community. No one can do show choir alone. Sure, there are soloists and people featured, but the heart and soul of the activity is the group aspect. I love taking them on the journey from novice, through struggling and striving and then leading them on to mastery.
My favorite quote is by Jay Bilas: “Hard work is not punishment. Hard work is the price of admission for the opportunity to reach a sustained standard of excellence.”
HOA COMPETITION EXPERIENCE: STUDENT-FOCUSED
We have consistently competed at HOA Orlando. It is a top destination for students, of course, but I appreciate HOA’s ability to create an educational experience for every group that attends. They have great production values and seek to provide a top-notch performance experience.
For us, it is always the final competition of our season, so there are many emotions surrounding the trip. I feel like HOA understands those emotions and seeks to take care of as many details as possible so the students can just enjoy performing one final time. While HOA is a high-powered competition, I think they also find ways to bring groups together to support each other. The Orlando event flows seamlessly from beginning to end. Having everything in the hotel simplifies things.
I have participated on both sides of things as an adjudicator and participating director. I know how hard the HOA team works to make it the best experience possible. No one truly understands the obstacles and parameters placed on them by the venues, and they work hard to keep those things far removed from the groups. They take great pride in hosting events where students are the focus.
For more information on our upcoming HOA season, click here.