Music in Motion Celebrates 25 Years of Performing

If you just discovered show choir thanks to the television show Glee, then you've been missing out for decades.

The real thing, Solon High School's Music in Motion, has been singing, dancing and competing in Solon for 25 years. 

This year's version of Music in Motion and four other area show choirs will strut their stuff at 7 p.m. Saturday during Solon's annual show choir festival, also the 25th year.

The show choir was started back in the day by Dave Curtiss, who noticed other schools in the area had successful show choirs and wanted to bring the same thing to Solon.

"It's been going ever since," said Gary Lewis, the current director.

Music in Motion participates in competitions and festivals throughout the year – the difference is the festivals don't name winners. This year, the choir has 48 singers, 16 band members and 10 crew members, Lewis said.

While Saturday's event isn't a competition, Music in Motion has already done well against other choirs this year. In late February, Music in Motion was named grand champion at the Twinsburg Northcoast Invitational, also garnering awards for best vocals, best show concept and best male soloist.

Besides Solon, also competing on Saturday are show choirs from Twinsburg, Garfield Heights, Euclid and Medina. Each choir will put on a 20-minute performance. Between sets, Music in Motion members will keep the audience entertained with solo and duet performances.

"It's almost like a continuous, kaleidoscopic performance," Lewis said.

Tickets are $10. The box office opens at 6 p.m. and doors open at 6:30 p.m.

As for the influence of Glee, Lewis said he doesn't think the show had much of a local effect since Music in Motion and other area show choirs are already well known. But he does think the show is a good thing for show choirs and music in general.

"We are more accepted and not shunned as being so different," Lewis said. "Any television program that's popular and promotes music is an A-plus in my book."