Aspire
Encore’s show choir — Aspire Performing Co. — a year-round performance ensemble where young artists train in voice and movement and mount two signature productions a year. Led by Kelby Tyrrell.
Program Overview
Aspire Performing Co. is Encore’s show choir program. Where Encore’s other programs are organized around a single production with a defined run, Aspire is an ongoing ensemble — young artists join the company, rehearse weekly through the year, and perform together in two annual signature shows plus community appearances.
The emphasis is on musical harmony and artistic expression, ensemble singing, and the kind of vocal and movement training that compounds when the same group of artists works together for months at a time. Aspire is where a young performer goes when they want to grow as a singer and ensemble member without the start-stop rhythm of audition-cast-rehearse-perform-close that the production track follows.
Key Features
- Weekly rehearsals focused on music and choreography — a consistent cadence across the school year.
- Two signature annual productions plus seasonal showcase opportunities open to the public.
- Advanced vocal training — part harmony, ensemble blend, and individual voice development.
- Movement training paired with the singing — choreography that serves storytelling, not decoration.
- Mentorship from working professionals. Aspire artists work directly with experienced talent.
- Community performance opportunities beyond the signature productions — local events, partnerships, holiday performances.
Signature Annual Productions
Aspire mounts two signature productions each year.
Villains Night (Fall). Aspire’s annual tradition inviting young artists to explore storytelling’s most complex antagonists. The show challenges performers to understand character motivation while delivering compelling, theatrical entertainment. Themes the company explores: character complexity and motivation analysis, moral ambiguity in storytelling, performance range and character transformation, and the role of well-drawn antagonists in great stories.
Bright Lights of Broadway (Spring). Aspire’s spring showcase celebrating the magic and artistry of Broadway. A tribute and love letter to the art form — beloved songs, memorable moments, and the timeless spirit of musical theater. Themes the company explores: Broadway history and musical theater appreciation, vocal performance and ensemble singing, choreographic styles across different eras, and the cultural impact of musical theater.
Joining Aspire
Aspire is audition-based. Auditions are held seasonally; the current season schedule lives on Encore’s website, or contact Director of Education for the next call. Because Aspire is an ongoing ensemble rather than a per-show cast, the audition is about voice, musicianship, and whether the young artist will thrive in a long-term group commitment — not casting for a specific part.
Once a young artist is in the company, they rehearse with the same ensemble through the year. They are expected to commit to the weekly rehearsal schedule and to both signature productions.
How Aspire Fits Alongside the Stages of Encore
0.0 - The Stages of Encore is built as a production pathway — Junior Stages (Camps → Junior Shows → Emerging Artist Shows) leading into Signature Stages (Signature Shows → Show with a Pro). Each step is a discrete production a young artist auditions for, is cast in, rehearses, and performs.
Aspire runs alongside that pathway, not within it. A young artist can be in Aspire while also auditioning for and being cast in Junior, Emerging Artist, Signature, or Show with a Pro productions. The two tracks reinforce each other: Aspire builds the singing and ensemble muscle that strengthens any production cast, and production work brings stage and storytelling experience back into the choir room.
Operational Notes
Aspire is led by Kelby Tyrrell as Artistic Director. Music direction for Aspire draws on the same vocal pedagogy used elsewhere at Encore — see Music Supervisor’s Guide for the canonical approach. Choreography for the signature productions follows the principles in Choreographer’s Guide, adapted for show-choir staging where the singing and the movement happen simultaneously.
Like every Encore program, Aspire is governed by the Ten Commandments: Heart Over Art comes first, Safety Over Sequins is non-negotiable, and the goal is the growth of every young artist in the room.
Related
- This is Encore — the org-wide mission Aspire serves
- 0.0 - The Stages of Encore — the production pathway Aspire runs alongside
- Director of Education — the staff home for Aspire questions
- Music Supervisor Director · Music Supervisor’s Guide — vocal direction at Encore
- Choreographer · Choreographer’s Guide — choreographic work for Aspire productions
- Ten Commandments
- Departments and Roles
Status: Working · Portal: Public · Last reviewed: 2026-05-12 · Owner: Rhett