Regis Middle School show choir 'Eclipse' wins Grand Champion at Urbandale Invitational

CEDAR RAPIDS – The Regis Middle School show choir “Eclipse” were repeat winners Friday, February 10 at the Urbandale Show Choir Invitational. They competed at Urbandale High School last year for the first time and were named Grand Champion, best vocals, best choreography and best female soloist (Malerie Egli).  This year Regis competed against eleven other middle schools, all with larger student enrollments, and were named Grand Champions and best choreography.  Eclipse also received first place in middle schools at the Muscatine Show Choir competition on Saturday, January 21.

Regis Eclipse and “Illusion” are directed by Ms. Laura Fog (vocals) and Mrs. Erica Ireland (choreography).  This dynamic duo of middle school show choir have a total of 16 grand champions, 20 best choreography, 10 best vocals, six best combos, and eight outstanding soloists in the five years they have worked together at Regis.

Regis Middle School has 450 students, with 300 in choir (67%) and 217 in all three show choirs (48%).  Eclipse has 64 members and is a try-out choir.  Illusion is another seventh and eighth grade show choir and has 50 members.

Regis Middle School also has the only sixth grade show choir in Iowa that competes.  “Pizzazz” has 92 sixth-graders and is under the direction of Mrs. Carol Deignan.  “Our program really benefits from having a sixth grade show choir,” said Ms. Laura Fog, Regis Choir Director.

“Our number one focus is developing the student into a quality person, no matter whether we win or lose. There are many life skills students learn from being in the group like this, which are more important than learning how to sing and dance,” said Fog. “Since the kids sign up, they know it is a big commitment, and that they have to be disciplined and work hard.”

“The coolest thing about working in a Catholic school is that we can talk about God,” said Mrs. Erica Ireland, Regis ACE teacher and choreographer. “God is working through Laura Fog,” said Ireland. “What she does with immature voices is amazing. The kids trust her. They know that if they open their mouth to sing they won't face ridicule, she will make sure they will sound right.  She makes the students feel valued and appreciated.”

“I am doing what God has meant me for me to do,” said Ireland.  “I believe that God gives you certain gifts and that I am using those gifts through working with the kids at Regis.  Any time you can get kids involved in the Arts, it is a positive thing for the school and for the student. It includes students who may not otherwise be on a team, and show choir is definitely a team effort.”

“We believe that in middle school, show choir should be for any student who wants to participate. Later in life students will face plenty of rejection or exclusion in not making a team.  That is why we don't cut anyone in sixth grade and have 92 members in Pizzazz, and have two seventh and eighth grade teams.  We need to build the kids' confidence,” said Ireland.

“We benefit greatly by having a choreographer at our school because she can help develop the show throughout the year.” Fog said. “Erica pushes the kids to develop their dancing skills beyond the middle school level.  In our critiques, many judges assume we fly in our choreographer from out of state. She is that good.”

“We can't have a successful program without an amazing parental support system,” said Fog. “They organize the costumes; help with the equipment, hair and make-up.  It makes the kids feel important because their parents volunteer their free time to support the program.”

“It feels good to win, but it feels better to succeed,” said Ireland.  “We stress to the kids that it is not about the trophy, it is about the pride you feel in your self when you come off the stage.”

“We have the same goal at how we want our show to look.  The longer we work together, the more we both pay attention to the others' area because we know what the other person expects,” said Ireland.  “She has challenged me to increase the difficulty of the choreography when it was needed.”

“When my daughter Madison joined Regis show choir it gave her confidence, and it was fun and exciting,” said Mrs. Heidi Recker, a Regis parent volunteer. “I was grateful for the opportunity she was given so I decided to help out. Plus I get to know the kids. It is a great program with wonderful people involved both the parents and students.  It is very rewarding for me,” said Recker.

“Both Laura and Erica work so well together, both are so talented,” said Recker.  “I have come to appreciate the rapport they have with each other and the kids.  We are really fortunate to have them at Regis.”

“Ms. Fog and Mrs. Ireland give the students confidence to try new things,” said Pam Feltes, a Regis parent volunteer. “My daughter Jamie now has the confidence to try out for the Opus Honor Choir, and she made it this year.  She would never have even tried out before.”  More Regis students (24) were chosen for the Opus Honor Choir this year than from any other school in Iowa.  Over 80 students have been chosen for Opus since Ms. Fog started at Regis in 2007.

“It is very rewarding to us when former students give us a big hug and say thank you for everything you have taught me, you made a difference in my life,” said Ireland.

Regis is a Catholic middle school for grades six through eight in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Six parishes contribute to the success of Regis:  All Saints, Immaculate Conception, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Matthew, St. Pius, and St. Wenceslaus.

Regis Eclipse performs next at Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School's “Raise the Roof” competition on Saturday, February 25 at 10:30 AM.