High school show choir rounds out successful season with local competition

Waltham High School’s show choir rounded out its 2024-2025 season this Saturday by hosting the Eastern Show Choir Festival at the city’s new high school. 

As host, the choir was not included in the competition’s scoring. But both the varsity Music Unlimited and junior varsity Music Express choirs performed for the penultimate time this year ahead of their May 15 Spring Showcase performance.

The choir groups are directed by husband-and-wife team Thomas and Alyssa Cincotta. The choirs are accompanied by a show band made up of 15 WHS students directed by Ron Vanaria. 

Show choir combines singing, dancing and storytelling alongside music provided by a live band.

Waltham’s teams compete to win prizes at local and national competitions. Their shows for the season are developed during the prior spring and summer and then practiced and performed in the fall and winter.

This year’s Music Unlimited show follows a student who is facing various pressures. Themes of authenticity, compassion and community are supported by songs such as “Children” by Billie Porter and “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees.

Music Express performs a different show, which follows the story of WHS show choir auditions along with the insecurities and self-doubt that comes with performing and the eventual liberation of singing and dancing like no one is watching. The performance features “Express Yourself” by Madonna and “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga alongside songs from the musical “A Chorus Line.”

An award-studded season

This season, Music Unlimited won three Grand Championships, four awards for Best Choreography and three awards for Best Vocals. 

Music Unlimited also placed third in The Franklin Central Hoosier Show Choir Classic, which took place in Indianapolis. 

Music Express won a gold medal this season for the first time since 2012. Such an honor is awarded to teams that received more than 90% of total possible points in the competition. 

The show band won the title of Best Band four times this season as well.

“Having one of our most successful seasons in terms of awards definitely made the season extra memorable,” Thomas Cincotta said in an email to The Waltham Times. “Not only did the group place well at competition, but they made incredible memories with each other, and it really brought the group to a whole new level of community.”

Community support is essential

“Community support is an important part of Waltham’s show choir program, especially because there is no cost for participation,” he said. “This is not common among show choirs. We believe that money should not be a barrier to participate.”

The choir relies on fundraisers run by The Waltham Choral Parents Association as well as donations from local businesses. This support allows the program to continue to thrive not only at competition but also at an educational level as well.

“It is an amazing bonding experience for the kids, and it really teaches them how to work as a team on a yearlong project,” Cincotta added.Those wishing to stay up to date with Waltham’s show choir teams can find more information on their Facebook page. Waltham’s results from this year’s competitions and information on ways to donate can be found on The Waltham Choral Parents Association’s webpage.