It’s that time of year again for Ben Davis’s annual Giant Spectacular (Spec) competition. For those of you who do not know what Giant Spec is, in a nutshell, it is a choir competition that involves planning and construction.

“I think it is awesome how the volunteers come together for one event,” choir secretary Sonya Bonanno said.

Starting this Saturday,  the Giant Spec  is on its 11th run. It is one of the largest choir competitions in the state, consisting of 30 choirs from 19 schools in states like Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Indiana.  By becoming ISSMA qualifiers, the choirs have to put their best foot forward to be in the top nine, and then work towards finals. Out of all of the choirs that make up Ben Davis, only five are competing, so it will be quit the turn out.

The Ben Davis choir department is in charge of constructing all the sets and designs needed for the Spec. Starting Friday morning and going through the day Saturday, a group of parent volunteers and students will be busy turning the school into a massive choir competition and then taking it down.

The Ben Davis choir works hard to produce this on-going legend. For students, it is mandatory for them to come and help out in some way, but because of the large amount of volunteers, reaching to more than 200 and consisting of students and parents, the job gets done quickly and sufficiently. Choir teacher Jason David sees the Spec as an interesting exploitation to not only the students, but for the other choirs.

“It is giving our students a chance to work on a competition. It is also an opportunity for choirs around the midwest to both experience Ben Davis and its students,” David said.

A major investment that happens at the Spec is that it’s a great place for vendors to come and introduce their ideas. Most of the venues include food vendors, but also involves other booths that sell jewelry, scarves and name brand bags. Some of the food venders sell ice cream, hot dogs and pizza. Another vendor that choir teacher Hersel Cremeans emphasizes is one that sells friendship.

“The Spec is something that brings people together,” Cremeans said. “People from competing choirs stay for other performances and cheer for them. It is a great way to spread friendship too.”

Also, all profits go toward the Ben Davis choir department for costumes, music and other fees. So come on out and support not only your Ben Davis Giants during this 20 hour time slot, but all the other visiting choirs so far from home.

Giant Spec

  Time- 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

                                  Cost- Children and Parents                             Students

            $10 for 1 session                              $7 for 1 session

                $15 for 2 sessions                            $10 for 2 sessions

Ben Davis performance times

Purple-Aires- 2:20 p.m.

Preview- 3:20 p.m.

Expressions- 3:45 p.m.

Sounds- 7:15 p.m.

Premiers- 9:50 p.m.