If you want to hear some music, Rush hour is an acapella group that performs at MHS events and various Mundelein venues throughout the year. Senior Chloe Langford had an idea to start this group her freshman year. She had heard about an organization in Los Angeles called ¨A Cappella Academy, and wanted to create something similar here.
Rush Hour performs pop style music but will occasionally sing some traditional tunes as well. The Rush Hour group includes Shawn Mastandrea, Jasmine Tigley, Julie Brenend, Lily Jones, Molly Stedman, Leo Garrelts, Nadia Garreltss, Sam Zwievelhofer, Alex Benassi, and Chloe Langford.
Langford said, ¨This style of music is good for our group, because we don’t have anything else exactly like it at school, and it’s likely that the audience will know the songs.¨
Langford feels that her musicianship and leadership abilities have grown after starting the ensemble. Rush Hour performs in school concerts, but the group also has the opportunity to play at venues outside of school as well. Langford is grateful for the opportunity to direct and help the group become the best they can.
“I want to do a good job and give 100% every single morning. It makes it so much better when people show up ready to rehearse at 100%, so I want to be giving that back too,” said Langford.
Senior Shawn Mastandrea joined the group this year. He enjoys singing and wanted to find something that would stray away from the usual concert band or marching band. Mastandrea’s biggest challenge was blending his voice with others who sing like him. However, the singing is not what Mastandrea enjoys most about being a part of the group; he most enjoys the people he sings and spends time with.
The group practices in the morning to avoid conflicts members may have with school and extracurricular activities. The bond that the ensemble shares is special. They all work together to sing the best they can when the show lights come on.
