By J1 Reporter Emily Doll

As the music starts playing, 18 Marian girls rush to their opening spots, waiting in anticipation for their cue. Three steady measures set the tempo, and they strike a pose. Marian Momentum’s members, who are a part of Marian’s first ever show choir, have been perfecting their dancing and singing since the beginning of August.

Founded just this year, the show choir is paving the way for future generations of students interested in this specific branch of the Fine Arts Program.

“It’s amazing what 18 girls can accomplish. Hours of challenging choreography, awesome vocals, and a common goal of teamwork keep us going. At the heart of Marian Momentum, there is a mix of laughter and dedication. There’s something special about being in show choir, and I’m so proud to be able to say I’m a part of it,” sophomore Marian Momentum member Megan Doehner said.

Rob Huebner, the director of Marian Momentum, is preparing the girls for future competitions, performances, and possible concerts. “To be a part of building a tradition at a tradition-rich school is exciting,” Huebner said.

Huebner came to Marian with previous experience directing Westside Middle School’s show choir for 17 years. According to the official competition rules for each school’s show choir, Huebner is allowed to direct both show choirs, which are in different competition categories, since they would never compete against each other.

Although he is the director, Huebner does not work with the girls alone. Sonia Church, the group’s accompanist, and Megan Tantillo, the group’s choreographer, also help the girls through the process of learning and memorizing the songs and dances.

The group practices on Monday and Thursday nights for two hours after school in the Dance Studio, located in the Performing Arts Center. At those times, one can hear the girls practicing songs like “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry and “Team” by Lorde.

“The music is very modern and was chosen to appeal toward a younger audience,” senior member Rachael Steier said. The group’s entire performance is around 14 minutes long, and they will be performing in multiple competitions, as well as possibly performing in April during an extended homeroom.

The tryout process began last April with 25 girls auditioning. They learned a part of a song and a dance to it over the span of two days. Marian Momentum currently consists of students from sophomore to senior year, although students from any grade could have auditioned. After the members were chosen, the group learned a majority of their dances and music before the school year had begun during a boot camp. Although the girls did not need to pay a fee to join the group, there will be fundraisers to raise money for the costume expenses.

“So far, the process has been a lot of hard work. We have had to put in a lot of time into show choir, especially when learning new dances. I know that in the end, our hard work will pay off. Both our director and the people in the group make it really fun, and I’m excited to be a part of something completely new at Marian. I am excited to see how it will grow after I graduate,” senior member Molly Fisher said.

The girls know that from the dance floor to the risers, giving it their all is essential to pump up the crowd. “Prepare yourselves, because these talented young women are definitely gaining the momentum that they need,” senior member Devon Gottsch said.