Photo courtesy of Tom Tran.
On January 24, Hastings Senior High’s UNCAGED showcased their performance at an exhibition during this year’s Tiger Clash competition.
Tiger Clash is an opportunity for UNCAGED to preview their performance in a non-competitive setting.
“The kids just knocked it out of the park. It’s one of the best audiences you get all year,” Show Choir Director Christian Yost said.
Performing at Tiger Clash allows UNCAGED to prepare for future competitions during the year.
“I think my fear is always just, ‘Can we make sure we’re focused enough to have a good showing?’ We have a good show, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re the best dancers and the best singers yet,” Yost said.
Senior Kailey Goodrich, who has been performing in the show choir since before high school, said Yost is the best show choir teacher she’s had because he supports everyone in the group.
“I don’t think I would have any other directors or any other person to be that person who leads me to be this kind of person I am now,” Goodrich said. “Mr. Yost is a great man, and he is an amazing director. I cannot wait to see all the other shows he puts on after I’m gone.”
Planning for next year’s Tiger Clash began the day after the competition. A group of approximately six adult members discussed what could have been done differently and what needed improvement. Invitations were also sent out to next year’s participating groups. Since getting off the ground after Covid-19 and seeing his students improve, Hastings High’s show choir department is confident to say Tiger Clash will remain an annual event.
“I think we have such a growth in our numbers because we’ve just seen success,” Yost said. “We have such a great culture of kids supporting each other, kids showing up for each other, and kids going above and beyond for each other. When you have a culture like that, success loves to thrive.”
