On Mar. 25, the Utica High School choir hosted its annual Coffee House Cabaret. Students performed a variety of solos and duets, along with two group numbers that they had previously presented at the Solo and Ensemble State Competition. The cabaret also served as a fundraiser. The choir offered baked goods, snacks, coffee, and pop, and accepted donations from attendees. The money raised from these sales will be used to help the choir grow in the coming years. Choir teacher Lindsey Tycholiz-McKiddy led the group in her first year back since 2023.
The evening followed a Roaring Twenties theme, students transformed the choir room into a performance ready space that captured the era’s atmosphere. The event was hosted by choir president senior Owen Mailhot, who introduced each performer as they took the stage.
“I am the personal hype man, so it was a genuine honor to get the audience cheering for my fellow choir members,” Mailhot said. “We all prepared for the event by practicing our solos, duets, and group songs, and then bringing in decorations such as streamers, glitter, and ballons”
Choir members played an important role behind the scenes, working together to prepare the space and create a welcoming environment for the audience. Junior Christian Wilson noted that helping set up was just as meaningful as performing.
“Not only was singing with the whole group really fun,” Wilson said, “but it was great that everyone helped set up the stage and blowing up balloons.”
Family and friends filled the choir room as students took the stage for the annual Coffee House performance. Sophomore Jaxson Reddit was especially excited to participate in his first show, eager to perform great music in front of a supportive audience.
“One of my favorite parts was greeting all of the friends and family as they came in,” Reddit said. “I enjoyed helping people and guiding them to where they needed to go.”
Throughout the night, choir students performed a wide variety of music, ranging from Broadway hits and country songs to classical arrangements. Many students also performed solos, giving them the opportunity to choose music that reflected their personal style.
“I performed the solo ‘I’ve got you under my skin.’ By Frank Sinatra because I thought I could sing the song well and I look up to the person it was sung by,” Reddit said. “It felt really good preforming in front of the audience of such a lively audience.”
As the performances went on, senior Zoe Stevens grew more comfortable on stage, gaining confidence with each song and becoming more at ease in front of the audience.
“Performances are always fun in choir. I found myself less nervous to sing compared to previous years,” Stevens said. “I sang ‘Good And Evil’ from ‘Jekyll and Hyde the musical’ and then ‘The Other Side’ from ‘The Greatest Show Man’ as a duet with my friend Owen. (Mailhot)”
Students contributed more than just performances, they also helped organize and prepare refreshments for guests. Sophomore Kristain Smith made several baked goods to share with the group.
“Bringing in food allowed people to enjoy something while watching the performance,” Smith said. “It also encouraged people to buy food for donations. We sold cookies, cupcakes, deviled eggs, coffee, and pop. I baked 60 homemade cupcakes!”
This year, the choir was quite small, but through fundraising efforts and recruiting new members, there is a strong focus on expanding the group. Choir teacher Lindsey Tycholiz-McKiddy is proud of the choir’s performance at the event and of everything they have been able to achieve this year.
“We raised over $200 that will go towards wardrobe, festival fees and accompanists. All of our patrons were very generous,” Tycholiz-McKiddy said. “The choir is small but mighty, we successfully accomplished a wonderful show.”
In the end, the Coffee House Cabaret brought together students, families and friends for a night that celebrated both music and community. Through their performances, preparation, and teamwork, choir members created an event that reflected their dedication and passion. With the support of those who attended and contributed, the choir looks ahead to continuing to grow and build on the success of this year’s performance.
