Surround Sound

Surround Sound is the junior varsity show choir at Center Grove HS. While the name Surround Sound is relatively new within the Department, the role of the group has dated back to the early 1980’s.

At that time, the group was known as Great Expectations and operated as a concert/show group that usually prepared students for CG Sound System and The Debtones. The ensemble was disbanded for several years in the later 1980’s and early 1990’s. The group was started again in 1992 under the new identity of Junior Varsity Singers or JVS for short.

The group was outfitted in a ‘very’ blue costume and performed at major school concerts throughout the year. Then Choral Director, Judy Meeks was very hesitant about creating another competitive ensemble, so the group did a few community performances to gain performance experience.

Disbanded again in the mid-1990’s (around 1996) as the new wing and music facilities were just being opened, there was an absence of a JV show choir offering in the Choral Department until the fall of 1999, when Mr. Andersen resurrected Junior Varsity Singers for the year. Finally, as demand for such an ensemble grew it was offered as a permanent ensemble in the Choral Department. In the Fall of 2000, Surround Sound, as it had been re-named by current members, would begin its history.

In its early years, Surround Sound catered to students who wanted the show choir experience without the time and rehearsal demands that Sound System and The Debtones place. Many parents and school administration hoped to see a more purposeful direction developed for the group and to take hold for Surround Sound. In fall 2002, under the direction of Christopher Pratt, Surround Sound began developing their first official contest show. The show was done early 2003 and the group traveled to their first show choir contest, Lawrence Central and placed third in the JV Mixed Division.

Each year has brought better results for the group and it now trains students for a performance opportunity in Sound System and The Debtones as well as enabling students not able to commit to the varsity show choirs to have a strong and positive show choir experience.

Since 2004, the group has placed over many JV and varsity show choirs in competitions at Lawrence Central, Zionsville, Triton Central and Shelbyville. In addition they have been named JV Grand Champion Show Choir in competitions at Southmont HS, Lawrence Central, and North Central show choir competitions earning captions for Best Vocal Sound, Best Choreography, Best Male and Female Soloists.