Eric Smead, Co-Director of Carroll Show Choirs from Carroll HS (IN), shared his Heart of America competition experiences and how he pushes the boundaries of what show choir can be.
MEET ERIC SMEAD
I grew up in Fort Wayne, IN, and have been singing and dancing for as long as I can remember! During my sophomore year of high school, I eventually got into show choir, coincidentally at Carroll High School! I was a member of Magic for three years and Jill Jeran was my director. After graduating, I attended Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. Throughout college I worked with the Carroll Show Choir program as their assistant director. I was then hired full time by the school and am now in my seventh year teaching full time, and my tenth year with the program.
PUSHING BOUNDARIES, TOGETHER
Our program is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what show choir is and can be. We are committed to creating shows that tell life’s stories through larger-than-life characters. I think every year we always try to embrace one new idea that none of us have seen on a show choir stage before. With that, we strive to create unique and exciting performance opportunities for our students and help them to grow as humans through the stories we tell, and the characters we embrace.
One of my favorite things about our program, beyond the performing and creating, is the familial nature of our group. I am blessed to work with some amazing and talented students, who care deeply for each other and strive to create genuine connections with the people they share the stage with. We have been challenged over the past year with some heavy and deep loss in our group and these students have banded together, held strong and persevered through what may be some of the darkest periods of their lives.
Of course, none of the great things this program has to offer would come without the help of my amazing co-director, Jill Jeran. Jill is now in her 21st year at Carroll and has really helped to push the boundaries in her time here. She was the one that initially started the storyline shows and through her ingenuity, she and I, and our amazing team, have been able to continually push ourselves into the next levels of creation. We have an amazing team of people who support our students and program and without them, we really would not be the Carroll Show Choirs. It takes all of us to create the truly special moments throughout the years.
TRAVELING TO COMPETITIONS OFFERS GROWTH, EXPOSURE AND CONNECTION
Traveling to competitions is extremely important and beneficial to our students! Our students work very hard throughout the year perfecting their performance techniques, both vocal and visual, and want to be seen by judges and other competing groups.
Traveling to competitions, especially those outside of your typical area, allows for the students to potentially see some groups that they might not typically get to see live. There is so much value in sharing what other groups are doing in their classrooms and our students can learn so much from them, just by sitting in the audience and watching what that group presents on stage! I know that our students love to watch other groups and see what they are coming up with that may be “pushing the limits” in either vocals or visuals. Going to contests is also a great connection zone for students. I know that our students have met kids from all across the country who are involved in show choir, and they talk with them frequently! It allows them to have other meaningful connections and conversations beyond their typical realm of normality.
The other great thing about attending contests throughout the year is that our students are put in front of many of the industry’s best vocal and visual artists. Through competition, they are being watched and critiqued by many professionals who offer them great wisdom and insight into performing and are an integral part of the growth process. It’s also very helpful for me to hear certain thoughts about our performances from these individuals and allows me to grow more as their teacher and coach.
HOA COMPETITION EXPERIENCE: FROM FEEDBACK TO FINALS
In 2023, we traveled to NYC to compete at HOA. We were going against some really tough competition that weekend! My girls group had been having a really strong run at home and was headed in the right direction, but were facing a major giant, Los Alamitos. Going into the competition, we all agreed that we were just going to give it our best to see where we stacked up against them. Obviously, thinking that we were not going to be too close. However, I challenged the group to go and work for at least one of the caption awards and make it interesting. Come to find out, we made the night show, with Los Alamitos, and after the preliminary round, we were winning in vocals. I was stunned.
We had a great critique session following our performance and it gave me great insight and inspiration into how to get them to move forward. In the warm-up room before our finals performance, I encouraged the girls that they just needed to go out and have the best show ever and that they were capable of making it happen for themselves. In the end, that group went on to win Best Vocals and the Grand Champion trophy in the women’s division. We were stunned. We had worked so hard all year for this competition and worked to make this a reality for ourselves. The feedback and critiques we received helped propel us forward to victory! We were adjudicated fairly and felt that we had done our best in representing what we could do. HOA made it possible to see the hard work that you put in pay off.
FINAL THOUGHTS
HOA is an excellent national competition to attend. Through HOA, our students get to experience the thrill of traveling and performing in some of the country’s hottest performing arts hubs. They get to experience being immersed in New York City’s hustle and bustle, the thrill and wonder of Disney and the music city itself, Nashville! Along with all of that, they get to perform and compete against some of the best show choirs around the country and be adjudicated and critiqued by industry leaders from a typically broader scope than a typical competition. HOA makes the experience fun and simple from start to finish and never ceases to make the Carroll Show Choir family feel right at home, no matter what city we are in.
HOA is a fantastic organization that is dedicated to providing great performance opportunities for students and creating environments for students to grow and thrive as performers. If you’re considering an HOA event, DO IT! You will not regret the positive, fun, and educational travel experience that they provide.
For more information on our upcoming HOA season, click here.