COLORADO SPRINGS - The Colorado High School Activities Association recognized state champions in music for the second time this year, with a champion being crowned in Show Choir, A Cappella, and Jazz during the CHSAA Festivals at Cheyenne Mountain High School this past Wednesday and Thursday.

Cañon City came away with two first-place trophies - in Show Choir and Jazz - while the hosts, Cheyenne Mountain, captured first place in A Cappella. 

"It's pretty surreal because in the arts, sometimes we get competitive, but this is really about sharing each others gifts with each other," Cañon City director Ryan Walter said after claiming a second-straight show choir title Wednesday night. "Everyone is a winner here and everyone is super successful. It's inspirational to be around this many growing artists and seeing how people create together."

Over the course of the two days, while the musical performances are focused on show choir, a cappella and jazz ensembles, participants also have an opportunity to engage with

professionals musicians.

"One of my favorite things about this event is that the kids truly celebrate each other and cheer each other on and just embrace the music and each other... it's really wonderful to see and to witness that." Wisdom said. "It's also such a cool experience that they get to work with professional musicians... that they can see and hear them perform and then that they have an opportunity to work with them as they work to hone their craft."

And hone their craft they do.

At the Show Choir Festival on Wednesday, Cañon City came away with first place for a second-straight year, while Cheyenne Mountain took second place.
 
 

"I feel so blessed, it's an incredible feeling," Cañon City senior Cedric Smith said on winning a second state title in show choir. "It's a great feeling. It's No. 2 in a row for us, and I'm just grateful to do it with my friends that truly are my family. I gave them my all."
 

In addition to Cañon City and Cheyenne Mountain, Vista Ridge and Vista Peak PREP were also recognized for having honorable mention performances in show choir. 

And then, on Thursday, the Cheyenne Mountain's Crimson and Slate group secured their second-straight state title in the A Cappella Festival, while Vista Peak Prep took second place.

"I'm very proud of my students, they've worked really hard and I just couldn't more thrilled for them for this moment." Wisdom said. "We always say that the most important thing is the music and giving the gift of that music, so things like this (winning) are just the cherry on top."

It's the opportunity to perform that really matters, though.

"We absolutely love any opportunity that we have to perform," Wisdom added. "Going into this evening, the students were really relaxed and just excited to perform for their peers. It's truly one of their favorite audiences when they get to sing for a lot of other students."

In addition to A Cappella, the Jazz Festival also took place on Thursday, with Cañon City emerging as the top jazz ensemble. 

"I don't think there are any winners... everyone's winning today by sharing their gifts with everybody; I just think it's incredible," Walter said.

He continued by explaining how special this jazz title was though, because the group was assembed as part of a student's capstone project. With jazz not being a part of the school's class schedule, the group met twice a week during their lunch break to practice. Now, next year, the school - which will be able to tout itself as the best in the state - will feature jazz as a class offering for students. 

"This is our first year at this part of the festival," Walter explained. "This group had not existed before August. But a student made it happen. 
"I had always wanted a jazz choir, but I knew I asked a lot of my kids already, so I knew it had to come from a student that people loved. We had a student make all-state jazz last year - the first student in the school's history - and this year he convinced everyone to create a group. He did it... he made it a capstone project, convinced some friends to audition for all-state, and now, it's in the class schedule for next year.

"This trophy is for him. It really shows what a student's initiative and agency can do to create something special."

Create something special is exactly what Cañon City High School did. 

"At the end of the day, I tell my students every year, it's not about placements," Walter explained. "If you remember a concert that you went to or have a favorite event that you've been to in your life, you don't remember that note that they hit, you remember how you felt in the moment. So I always tell my kids we're in the business of creating feelings, and we did that. It was great."

Second to Cañon City in jazz was Erie.