Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Port Washington acapella group earns honors in NYC
PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Acapella forces you to rely on the other members of your group. Making music without instruments means everyone's got to be in tune.
Limited Edition, the acapella group at Port Washington High School, has perfected that.
After a whirlwind spring, they recently got some well-deserved recognition in New York City.
"Mic check," a student called out during a recent practice at the high school.
If practice makes perfect, Limited Edition is getting close.
"One, two, three, four," they count themselves in.
Most days you can find them practicing their set.
"What makes a good acapella song is a hook or an earworm," said choir teacher Dennis Gephart.
Gephart has been teaching most members of the group for years.
"It's a really unique experience because it's such a small group and they have to work together every day," he said.
Working together is a must.
Limited Edition is an acapella group, so no instruments.
"So, it's done purely with voices and it's a really unique way, I think, to share music," said senior Avery Johnson.
Sixteen students at Port Washington High School make the group.
Instruments or not, you need a beat.
And that's where Teagan Zuraw comes in.
"I am the vocal percussionist for Limited Edition," she said.
Zuraw is making all of the drum sounds you hear.
"So, you have your kick drum, which is 'puh-puh.' And then you have your snare," she explained. "There's two different types. There's a couple different types of snares. There's inward k, that's 'cuh.'"
Her beats helped set the stage for Limited Edition to get national recognition this year.
It's been surreal, to be honest," said senior Jack Schwengels.
In April, they qualified for the International Championship of High School Acapella in New York.
"We knew we had only 22 days to make it to New York City. We had to raise $16,000," Gephart said.
They made it to the big stage and took third place.
"The crowd was alive the entire time," Schwengels said.
Zuraw was named best vocal percussionist in the nation.
"It was so shocking. I wasn't expecting it at all," she said.
Johnson says Mr. Gephart was expecting their success.
"He is so supportive. He's believed in us since day one. Before any of us saw ourselves going to nationals, he saw us going to nationals," she said.
A pitch perfect ending to a year of hard work.
"I'm just really proud to see how much they've grown and how much they've taken on themselves," Gephart said.
"We're all just really good friends and we work really, really well together," Zuraw added.
Limited Edition found out they'd qualified for the championships when they were flying back from a nine-day choir trip to Italy. So, it has been a busy few months. It's a competitive group to join. Gephart said 70 students try out every year.
If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].