Cathedral High's Irish Adrenaline Dominates Show Choir Competitions

The award-winning show choir team has won every competition they've entered over the past year, including Nationals.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Members of Cathedral High School's Irish Adrenaline perform high-energy chair choreography during show choir preview night on January 30th. The performance was part of their competitive set 'BraveHearts,' which highlights strong and influential women while showcasing sharp choreography and stage presence. Irish Adrenaline won every single competition they competed in last year, including Nationals in Orlando, Florida. The show choir team is a true representation of the excellence Cathedral High brings to its students, showcasing the power of teamwork and dedication.

Why it matters

Show choir competitions require immense teamwork, cooperation, and hundreds of hours of rehearsal to perfect the choreography, music, and technical elements. Irish Adrenaline's consistent success highlights Cathedral High's commitment to developing well-rounded students who excel both on and off the stage.

The details

Irish Adrenaline is led by Director of Show Choirs, Concert Choirs, and Piano Studies Marian Bender, and Assistant Director Jordan Fox. The directors work closely with the students to choose a theme, find the right songs, and collaborate with composers and lyricists to create a unique show. The team spends roughly 500 hours rehearsing before their first competition, with very few absences. This dedication has paid off, as Irish Adrenaline has placed first runner-up in their first two competitions this year, and won best vocals at a recent large division competition where they finished second.

  • Irish Adrenaline performed their 'BraveHearts' set during a show choir preview night on January 30th.
  • The team won every competition they entered last year, including Nationals in Orlando, Florida.

The players

Marian Bender

The Director of Show Choirs, Concert Choirs, and Piano Studies at Cathedral High School.

Jordan Fox

The Assistant Director of Irish Adrenaline Show Choirs at Cathedral High School.

Isabella Cadewell

A dancer in the Irish Adrenaline show choir team at Cathedral High School.

Emma Vande Bosche

A senior member of the Irish Adrenaline show choir team at Cathedral High School.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This number is one of my favorites because it really lets us show our confidence and connection as a team.”

— Isabella Cadewell, Dancer, Irish Adrenaline (irishconnection.net)

“Mrs. Bender chooses a theme then finds songs that fit within that theming. From there she works with composers, music editors, and lyricists to ensure each song is unique to our show.”

— Jordan Fox, Assistant Director, Irish Adrenaline Show Choirs (irishconnection.net)

“I would say the main reason we are consistently a top contender at competitions is the dedication our girls have to the team. We have roughly 500 hours of rehearsals before we hit the competition stage for the first time. It is very rare that a teammate misses a rehearsal.”

— Jordan Fox, Assistant Director, Irish Adrenaline Show Choirs (irishconnection.net)

“With the long rehearsal hours, we spend extreme amounts of time together where it's impossible not to become a family. Working together to put this show together has bonded us and helped us become more of a team each and every day through our shared passion of music.”

— Emma Vande Bosche, Senior, Irish Adrenaline (irishconnection.net)

What’s next

Irish Adrenaline will continue competing in show choir competitions throughout the year, with their sights set on defending their Nationals title.

The takeaway

Irish Adrenaline's consistent success in show choir competitions demonstrates the power of teamwork, dedication, and a shared passion for the performing arts. Cathedral High's commitment to developing well-rounded students who excel both academically and creatively is clearly paying off.