On Jan. 7, the Ambassadors finished choreographing their competition show. According to Kathleen Muloma, alto section leader for the Ambassadors, they have planned everything apart from several transitions, entrances, and exits.

“The first time we compete is Feb. 7. It’s really soon,” performing arts teacher John Burlace said. “So we’re still learning some of the music, a lot of the choreography, putting together props and costuming, so it’s really kind of that last minute rush to get everything done.”

Muloma said the cold weather has tightened the schedule further, leaving little time for review.

“The late starts kind of threw a screw into our rehearsal schedule,” she said. “We have almost all the music learned, we went over all of it at least once, but we learn the music we’re choreographing right before the rehearsal. So you’re expected to get it, learn it, keep it in your head, choreograph it, and retain what you’ve learned. There’s not a lot of time to go back and reteach things. The late start kind of threw a screw into our rehearsal schedule. We have almost all the music learned, we went over all of it at least once, but we learn the music we’re choreographing right before the rehearsal. So you’re expected to get it, learn it, keep it in your head, choreograph it, and retain what you’ve learned. There’s not a lot of time to go back and reteach things.”

The time frame, which results in choreographing shortly after learning the pieces, can cause difficulty. Muloma said inner voices such as second sopranos, altos, and baritones face certain challenges.

“You have to know the melody and how your part fits in with the melody,” she said. “Usually our songs are not too complicated word wise, but just getting the order, like which lyrics come first, and retaining it (can be difficult). Most of us are pretty good at learning a song and getting it, but just keeping your part straight, especially if it’s a weird harmony or different rhythm, but if you individually review it you can keep it. It’s mainly just getting it in your ear and knowing how it fits with the rest of the song. It’s just being really familiar with it.”

Burlace said the Ambassadors are diligently working on putting together the show, which will center on the story of Willy Wonka. Choreographing, which Muloma describes as one of the more difficult parts of learning a show, will soon give way to individual practice in anticipation for their first Feb. 7 competition.

“Especially with the competition season, these first weeks of January are vital,” Muloma said. “It’s nerve-wrecking to have a snow day on a day you had a rehearsal when you’re supposed to choreograph. I’m excited to just be done. Knowing we have all the material available to us to practice and clean is really rewarding.”