Chorus preparations for the 2016- 2017 school year have begun.

Before school started, all chorus members were required to attend the annual boot camp, known as “Prelude”, where the boys and girls were able to warm up for the start of the school year. The boot camp allows the newcomers the opportunity to learn the ropes of chorus. The boot camp agenda mostly consists of listening to the voices of the new and returning singers.

“It’s essential that we attend boot camp because you can get used to singing next to people you don’t normally sing with,” Natasha Cueves, junior and member of Women’s Varsity Chorus, said.

The chorus groups have started to rehearse “The Star Spangled Banner” which they will perform at the beginning of the first home football game, as a group, arranged around the audience. This is a tradition that many of the chorus students have participated in past years.

The new a capella group, called the Pink Panthers, will start performing this year. The Pink Panther’s will consist of only girls.

The PawCappella group will continue to perform as well, along with the new all-girls group. The Men’s Varsity and Junior Varsity, Women’s varsity and Varsity Choral will also be returning for the new school year.

“It’s going to be an awesome year,” Bruce Yost, Chorus teacher, said.

Chorus will be taking off for their annual trip to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom on Sept. 17, where the chorus groups can perform a number of songs for the Disney crowd.

“[Going to Disney with Chorus] was a lot of fun last year, so I’m looking forward to this year,” Charley Brannan, sophomore and member of Varsity Choral, said.

Many Chorus kids have said that they are enthusiastic about the leisure time they get to spend in the park after performing. After the performance, students split off into groups to enjoy the rides at the park and social aspect of the trip.

“It’s a good opportunity for you to bond with the other chorus kids,” Genevieve Bain, junior and member of Women’s Varsity Chorus, said.

The chorus has a plethora of songs they plan to perform throughout the year. “Let Freedom Ring” and “J’entends Le Moolin” are a few of the songs chorus will perform for the fall concert and the Disney trip. All of the music comes from different styles and genres, and the music will range from patriotic anthems to children’s songs like “Supercalifragilisticex pialidocious”.