Lincoln East Express excels in 2024 competition season

Kendra Riekenberg, Staff Writer, Editor • April 12, 2024

Lincoln East Express show choir showcases their talent at a recent competition. The group has had an impressive year, taking home the grand champion title at 4 different competitions.

Lincoln East show choir put their name on the map with an incredible 2023-2024 season. Express, ,took home the Grand Champion title four times, and left each competition with a long list of hard-earned accolades. Everything came together this year for the show choir crew; the vocals, choreography, band, and performance were all pieces of the same puzzle, assembled into an impressive show choir season for the Spartans.

Their first competition of the year wasn’t one the group was expecting to go to, but an unexpected snow storm brought them to Lincoln High. There, Express took home their first grand champion title, along with the award for best band, best choreography, best vocals, best soloist in Berkley Nielsen, and best performer in Tyler Hogg. Elegance and Elevation also succeeded, snagging 1st and 2nd place, respectively, in the prep division.

The group began the 2023-2024 year unsure of how it was going to go, as a variety of departmental changes took place. It wasn’t until their third competition of the year at Southwest Showdown that the group started to gain more confidence in their abilities. There, Express earned the grand champion title for the second time, along with best vocals, and best choreography. Elegance managed 1st place in the treble division, and Elevation took 3rd.

“Every week there would be some sort of pep talk or text being like ‘guys, we got this, just remember what we can do,” junior Ady Auman said. “The bond that was built throughout it all was really special.”

Express continued their winning streak at both Fields of Talent, and Clash of Titans, winning grand champion for the 3rd and 4th time, along with a variety of other accolades. Throughout the year the Spartans became well known in the show choir world, as they consistently beat teams with esteemed reputations.

“None of us knew how well this year was going to go, and every win was a huge shock because we went up against some famously really good groups that we didn’t think we stood a chance against,” senior Lauren Coniglio said. “I think that kept us humble throughout it, and motivated us to work even harder, and just overall have more fun.”
Good job on this one! You got a lot of good information about the choir and their wins, and pulled it together in a good consistent format. There are some things I want you to revise a bit to help the flow and structure of the article, but once you get that done, you’re golden.

About the Contributors

Kendra Riekenberg, Staff Writer, Editor

Kendra Riekenberg is a senior at East and this is her second year on The Oracle staff. Kendra loves to play volleyball, dance, and eat out with her family and friends. She has two siblings, an older sister and brother. News and features are her favorite stories to write. Her favorite color is sage green, and she got into the Oracle as her mother told her about it. She enjoys watching the Huskers play volleyball, or to watch any game of basketball. This year, she wants to go out of her comfort zone and try new things!

Hope Shortridge, Staff Writer, Co-Editor-In-Chief

Hope Shortridge is a senior at East and this is her third year on the Oracle staff. She is the Co-Editor in Chief with Peyton Svehla. For the Oracle this year, Hope wants to make the online version of the publication more well known, as well as covering all varsity sporting events as she did last year. At school she is in orchestra, Hope Squad, Unified Bowling, the Feminist Club, and is the founding member and president of the Broadcasting Club. When she's not in school or reporting on the latest East sporting event, she loves watching sports, especially baseball, and Husker football and volleyball. She also works at Eastmont Retirement Home as a server. She has a twin brother named Paul, and two Italian greyhounds: Sam and Iris at home. It might be her last year at East, but “I’m a Spart till I die,” Hope says.