The New Castle Red Hot Blues (RHB) have officially begun their 2025-2026 competition season!
The show this year, “1849”, is about finding gold, becoming rich, and leaving everything behind. Much like the pioneers in titular year who uprooted in order to find gold in California, members of RHB have the goal of leaving the past behind them so they can press on to greater achievements in their future.
Last season, one of the choir directors, DJ Shumaker, suffered from a brain aneurysm seconds before the group went on to perform. Shumaker had a long road to recovery, but he is now back to his rightful place directing RHB. Sophomore Zach Grieser admits that the group was nervous for the first competition this season because they had “not been to a competition after what happened.” Ultimately, the unspoken incentive was to perform their best for DJ.
Senior Issy Smith says that the show “reminds [her] of rags to riches.” The show has the group starting on the pursuit of gold. This show reflects RHB’s goal of moving forward after DJ’s health scare and leaving that pain in the past.
RHB competes in several competitions throughout their season with Noblesville state being the final one. This is where the top show choirs from all over Indiana come to put their routines to the test. These groups include The Pendletones, who RHB has a longstanding rivalry against. Their rival motivates the members of RHB to work harder than ever. Senior Cooper Vaughn hopes to win State and “bring one home this year.” Smith and Vaughn both have similar goals because regardless of the end score, they only want a productive and fun season.
Their next competition takes them to Franklin Central on Friday, February 27th, but they also perform at the Showchoir Spectacular in Bundy Auditorium on February 26th!
