News

Crescendos’ Sahithi Chaturvedula and Lindsay Monke cited for Outstanding Choreography

Crescendos, Thursdays await ‘wild card’ finals decision

CHELMSFORD, MA (Mar. 21, 2023) – The Crescendos and The Thursdays, Chelmsford High School’s a cappella groups, finished second and third, respectively, at the Varsity Vocals International Championship of High School A Cappella Northeast Region Semifinal round Sunday at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.

The Crescendos compiled 387 points from the judges while The Thursdays compiled 337 points. Spectrum, representing Plymouth North H.S., placed first and advances to the ICHSA Final Friday, Apr. 28 at The Town Hall theater in New York City.

Highlighting the event for Chelmsford were juniors Sahithi Chaturvedula and Lindsay Monke of The Crescendos, who received the award for Outstanding Choreography.

“They are absolutely elated over their second place finish at Semifinals,” said Amanda Roeder, CHS Choir Director and advisor to both The Crescendos and The Thursdays. “They feel great about their performance and were also very excited to see Spectrum take the first-place spot.”

Both The Crescendos and The Thursdays were one of 14 a cappellas nationwide invited to submit video performances to be chosen for three ‘wild card’ spots for the ICHSA Final. A panel of judges will evaluate the videos with the same scoring rubric used in the semifinal and announce the three winners Thursday, Mar. 30.

The Thursdays have advanced to the ICHSA Final four previous years, the last appearance in 2021 where, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, a cappellas submitted video performances. The Thursdays peaked with a third-place finish in 2019.

The runner-up result is especially meaningful for The Crescendos, who finished third at the ICHSA Northeast Region Quarterfinal and were selected for the semifinal via a wild card video submission. The Thursdays placed second at the Quarterfinal.

An appearance at the 2023 ICHSA Final would mark the first-ever finals appearance for The Crescendos.

The Crescendos performed “Red Desert” by 5 Seconds of Summer, “Sunlight” by Hozier, and “Breath of Life” by Florence and The Machine.

The Thursdays performed “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks, “Erase Me” by Lizzie McAlpine, and “I’m Tired” by Labrinth.

The 2023 Semifinal marked the fourth straight appearance for The Thursdays, and third straight for The Crescendos.

Both The Crescendos and The Thursdays have several performances scheduled in the coming months:

• Tuesday, Mar. 21: The Crescendos perform at the Chelmsford School Committee meeting (6 p.m.) | WATCH
• Monday, Apr. 10: The Thursdays perform at Summer Place in Chelmsford Town Center
• Saturday, Apr. 29: The Thursdays perform at the American Federation of Teachers Conference in Boston
• Friday, May 12-Saturday, May 13: Both The Crescendos and The Thursdays perform at 2023 ACA-Pocalypse at the Carl J. Rondina Performing Arts Center (7-9:30 p.m.) | BUY TICKETS

About Chelmsford Public Schools

The Chelmsford Public School District provides all students with multiple pathways to optimize their own potential for academic excellence, leadership, and social and emotional wellness. The mission of the Chelmsford Public Schools is to educate, engage, prepare, and empower well-rounded and knowledgeable learners to PERSEVERE through challenges, demonstrate RESPECT and INTEGRITY in their words and actions, are DEDICATED to their community, and display EMPATHY as global citizens while discovering and pursuing their full potential.  This PRIDE-driven culture enables all members of the school community to support the growth and development of students.  For more information, please visit www.chelmsfordschools.org.