PJC’s Encore fall debut set for tonight

Published or Revised October 21, 2009

Paris Junior College's Encore show choir will debut its fall song and dance presentation at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church. An extended version of this show will be performed at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the annual Pumpkin Festival. The group will perform at the corner of the plaza bordering Grand Avenue. This year's show will feature musical selections that range from "Viva La Vida" from the group, Coldplay, to the 1950s Jerry Lee Lewis hit, "Great Balls of Fire." Other songs include: "I'm Yours," "Unchain My Heart," "Pocketful of Sunshine," and "Open Arms." Encore has 22 students and the vocal sessions required to stage such a show focus on diction, rhythmic accuracy, and beauty of blend and tone, and are taught by PJC Choral Director Pat Fowzer. Choreography is taught by local Jazzercise instructor Kristina House Courson. Dance steps this year include soft shoe techniques, the grapevine, pivot turns, and military-like hand motions. According to Fowzer, the Encore group has a very good work ethic which enables it to put on a show of this length only seven weeks into the semester. "We strive to help each student develop every tool of performance necessary, and perhaps someday we will see some of our members performing on Broadway, American Idol, or even in an operatic venue," said Fowzer. Encore's other performance of the semester is "Encore in the Park," which will be held in Bywaters Park Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m.