Bonita Vista High School’s Sound Unlimited women’s show choir won the Southern California championship, defeating three of the nation’s top troupes in an invitational event hosted by Chula Vista High School in the Jack Tygett Performing Arts Center. Sound Unlimited competes April 27-28 in the FAME National Show Choir Championships in Chicago.
“This is a great accomplishment considering the very talented competition that was here today,” said Roxanne Ronacher, the group’s director. “With today’s performance, the Bonita Vista women have demonstrated once again that they can compete with America’s elite show choirs. I am very, very proud of all of them.”
Sound Unlimited won first place, sweepstakes and Grand Champion in the Advanced Girls Division, outscoring national powerhouse programs from high schools in Brea Olinda, Los Alamitos and Burbank. Bonita Vista’s winning Paris-themed set will be its competition piece in Chicago. The SoCal title will give the group momentum for the national championship competition, according to Chandler Berke, a senior singer/dancer in the Sound Unlimited.
“Today was a great confidence booster for all of us,” she said. “We have all worked very hard to get to this point and the entire team really came through today. Our singers, band and crew were all awesome, and together we did something really wonderful for our community.”
Chula Vista mayor Cheryl Cox awarded the students a proclamation earlier in the week and thanked them for representing the community on the national stage in the manner of American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez and the Blue Bombers Little League champions. Sound Unlimited is the first show choir of any type to qualify for a FAME National Championship.
Berke said the members of Sound Unlimited are grateful for the support the community has shown them.
“We really appreciate all the attention we have received and all the people who have contributed money to the group so we can go to Chicago,” she said. “We are going to do our very best to make everybody in our community proud of us and proud of Bonita Vista High School!”