Tiger’s Roar took place in Albert Lea High School’s auditorium on April 6, 2024 at 7 p.m. The Albert Lea Community had to pay an admission of $5 to watch the performances. Tiger’s Roar is a high school-run talent show that ALHS students are encouraged to participate in. All of the performances of Tiger’s Roar this year were musical, either it be through playing an instrument or by singing. Tigers Roar was organized by Erik Zinter and Suzanne Mauer, with the help of a few ALHS students.
“It was fun,” said Zinter. “We have a lot of talented people here at the school, it’s fun to hear them all. Fun to put the program together.”
Although this was Zinter’s first year helping organize Tiger’s Roar, he has had similar experiences from teaching at other schools.
River DePoppe, a Senior at ALHS and a former participant of Tiger’s Roar, performed two separate times by playing two different instruments. His first performance was “Suite #2, Mvt. 1”, J.S. Bach on his cello and during his second performance he played “Nocturne, Op.48 #1” on the piano. Although these were his only solo performances, he also helped Lillian Crissinger, who sang the song “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan, while he played the song’s soundtrack on the piano.
“The song was fun because it wasn’t a classical song and so I played around with it and had fun,” said DePoppe. “It wasnt as strict.”
Maddie Balthazor, a 9th grader, had performed for the first time by singing “Part of Your World” from the movie “The Little Mermaid”. Balthazor had been encouraged by friends to show off her singing abilities in Tiger’s Roar. She thought that by doing this, she could also help inspire others to do the same, even though she also had difficulties doing these types of events due to her anxiety.
“I feel it’s important because some people may be too scared to do it,” said Balthazor. “And you can show them, if you do it, that it’s ok to do it, and to not be afraid.”
Zinter enjoyed helping out in Tiger’s Roar because he got to know the participants outside of class, seeing their natural talents come out with confidence, especially since Tiger’s Roar allowed students to showcase their talents. He was proud of all the performers, especially since they were willing to take the risk that many were afraid to take.
“Risks are a part of life, and when you’re young, you have more opportunities but less consequences,” said Zinter. “It takes a lot of guts to get up and sing in front of others. It’s an opportunity, you never know what could lead to something else if you never take that risk.”