Sounds of South

Congratulations to our talented Sounds of South, recipients of multiple awards while competing at the WorldStrides Nashville Heritage Festival in Nashville, Tennessee (April 16-19). We are so proud of the amazing effort and dedication of these artists! Bravi!

1. Gold First Place (Concert Choir, 3A)
2. Adjudicator Award: The group received a 95 or higher
3. The "Ovation Award" was presented to Nolan Lee (senior): nomination by their director for outstanding leadership and service to the community.
4. Outstanding Choir: Highest score of all competing choirs

Sounds of South learned this week the heartbreaking news that we have lost a member of our “family.” Rainelle Bumbaugh Krause, a 2006 graduate of BHSS and Sounds of South member, was incredibly talented and was building an amazing career in opera, performing across the country and abroad. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut just a few months ago and was set to reprise her signature role of the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the Met later this year.

Words can’t fully express how deeply saddened we are by this tremendous loss—a beautiful, kind, and humble soul gone far too soon. We send our heartfelt sympathies to her family and friends.

From the family of Rainelle Krause:

With immense sadness, we share that Rainelle has passed away following a short hospitalization.

Rainelle was a force in our lives, a brilliant talent defined by grit, fearlessness, curiosity, intelligence, integrity, and resilience. Onstage, her voice matched the breathtaking power of her spirit. Offstage, she was a loving, caring soul whose vibrant energy lit up everyone around her. Our hearts are full from the years we shared, even as we're shocked that her skyrocketing career was cut short. We're grateful her preserved performances will let her gifts endure for years to come.

Rainelle always gave her very best, pouring her heart into her art and those she loved. The best way we can honor her memory is by living her values every day. We encourage you to keep her memory alive by sharing her beautiful performances.

We will plan an event to celebrate her life at a later date. For now, we wanted her friends and community to know this heartbreaking news.

Thank you for lifting her up through the ups and downs of her career. She loved sharing her journey with you.

Looking for a perfect evening after that fantastic Hoosier win? Join us for the final performance of "The Phantom of the Opera" at 7:00pm, tonight! Tickets are available at the door. Let's cheer on our seniors and ALL of the cast, crew, and musicians! A big thank you to one of our wonderful sponsors, Richardson Studio, for this great image of our Sounds of South seniors (not pictured: Victoria Navar).

Tickets for The Phantom of the Opera are now on sale at soundsofsouth.ludus.com

SAVE-THE-DATE! Tickets will go on sale sometime near the end of September/first of October. We will let you know!

We continue our Sounds of South senior highlight posts as we honor Eli Wetzel!

Eli is a four-year member of Sounds of South, where he has brought energy, humor, and depth to every performance. He appeared in the ensemble of Carousel (‘21), delighted audiences as Ali Hakim in Oklahoma! (‘22), gave us pause as Grantaire in Les Misérables (‘23), and lit up the stage as the charismatic Lumière in this year's Beauty and the Beast (‘24).

One of Eli’s most cherished Sounds of South memories was stepping onto the stage as Lumière for the first sold-out show of his SOS career. The exhilaration of performing to a packed house, surrounded by the joy and energy of the cast, was a moment he will never forget.

Beyond the spotlight, Eli is a four-year athlete on the BHSS Cross Country and Track and Field teams, a two-year Dance Marathon Executive, a LOTS Senior, and a proud Eagle Scout—each role reflecting his leadership, commitment, and dedication to serving others.

This fall, Eli will attend the University of Southern Indiana, majoring in Exercise Science, with plans to pursue a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. With his sights set on direct commissioning into the U.S. military, Eli hopes to utilize his skills to assist service members in recovering from service-related injuries—a mission inspired by the service of his family and close military friends.

“To my family, teachers, friends, and community—thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your unwavering support, wisdom, and encouragement have meant more to me than words can express. You’ve helped me grow, dream big, and believe in myself. The foundation you’ve built around me is filled with love and strength, and I will carry that with me always, no matter where life takes me.”

🎓 Congratulations and best wishes, Eli! Your dedication, passion, and talent have made a lasting impact on Bloomington High School South. The future is bright, and we’re cheering you on every step of the way!

We continue our Sounds of South senior highlight posts with Helena Tsvetkova!

Helena is a four-year member of Sounds of South. She performed in the ensemble in Carousel (‘21), played Gertie Cummings in Oklahoma! (’22), Eponine in Les Misérables (’23), and Belle in Beauty and the Beast (’24). Helena's musical talent extends beyond the BHSS stage having participated in five IU Opera Theater productions and has been a Jacobs School of Music Pre-College Guitar Academy student for 13 years. Helena is a National Honor Society member and a four-year member of both Dance Marathon and Student Council. After graduation, Helena plans to attend the IU Jacobs School of Music to pursue a major in vocal performance.

"Joining Sounds of South was one of the best decisions I have ever made. My high school experience would not have been the same without the amazing opportunities provided to me by Ms. Witten and the Upchurch family, so I would like to give a special thank you to them. I would also like to thank my friends and family for their endless love and support and my vocal coach, Alice Hopper, for believing in me and bringing out my voice in ways I thought were unimaginable. I would not be where I am today without this group and these people! I will cherish the memories I have made here, and I am forever grateful."

Congratulations and best wishes to you, Helena! !

As we approach graduation day for the BHSS Class of 2025, we will be highlighting our Sounds of South Seniors!

Let’s start by honoring Tristan Farris!

Tristan is a four-year member of Sounds of South and performed in Carousel (‘21), Oklahoma (‘22), Les Miserables (‘23), and Beauty and the Beast (‘24). Her favorite memories in Sounds of South were winning ISSMA State during the spring of her sophomore year and having to go to Disney World twice, including once with her mom. After graduation, Tristan will attend Indiana University where she will pursue majors in Education and International Studies.

“I want to thank my family, friends, and directors for everything they have done for me these past four years. I have created friendships and memories here that I hope will last a lifetime 🫶”

Congratulations and best wishes to you, Tristan! !

🎶✨ You’re Invited! ✨🎶
Join us for an inspirational, uplifting, and phenomenal evening as we celebrate the incredible talent of our performers at the Sounds of South Finale!
📅 This Friday, May 23rd
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Bloomington High School South
🎟️ Tickets: $5.00 at the door
This special night will be filled with music that moves the soul and memories that last a lifetime. We’ll be:
🎓 Saying a heartfelt farewell to our graduating seniors
🎤 Welcoming our newest members into the SOS family
🤝 Reuniting with our amazing SOS alumni
Come celebrate with us and support these extraordinary young people as they light up the stage one final time this season. You won’t want to miss it!❤️

We are thrilled to announce our new Sounds of South members for the 25-26 academic year! Congratulations and welcome to Sounds of South!

Sounds of South New Member List

Mia Batule
Christine Daae
Isabel Maxwell
Joey Menoni
Christopher Nunez
Nathan Orth
Max Peacock
Lila Pierce
Hannah Schilling
Brodie Smith
Macy Spicer
Madison Spier
Lucy Staten
Clara Turk
David "Giacomo" Welch

Coming up next.... Sounds of South and South Sensations will present a holiday choir concert! Save the Date!