Warnings: Lots of theater/vocal performance jargon
Summary: Dan is the lead in his school’s show choir, the Hearts of Berkshire, where he writes all the music and practically runs the entire group. Their biggest competition is the Rawtenstall Grammar Counterpoints, led and instructed by a very hot Mister Phil Lester. After the Counterpoints crush the Hearts at the national competition, Dan harbors a grudge to get back at them next season. Then Dan’s forced to leave Berkshire and transfer to Rawtenstall, and all bets are off when Mr. Lester asks Dan to sing for him.
Part 1: Harmony and Counterpoint
If you ask anyone, they’ll tell you there have never been more teenagers in the West End than the night of the National Show Choir Competition. Every show choir and glee club in the United Kingdom traveled to London for a chance to compete for the trophy, and while everyone gets a consolation prize and a great weekend in the city, it’s not a weekend to take for granted. At least, not for the competitors.
Approximately fifteen minutes before their scheduled performance time, the Hearts of Berkshire captain and lead Dan Howell walked through the back halls of the theater to deliver his set list to a judge runner. This deadline was the same for every competition, just in case disaster ever struck, but this ritual was getting very old very quickly. You’d think it would already be old after three years of it, but Dan was eternally stubborn. Besides, it was better than having the judges guess what you’re singing. Dan scoffed at the thought. This probably benefited the choirs who had no shot at the title, which of course didn’t include his.
The Hearts were an institution, an all-male a capella group with six national titles to their name, and Dan’s been there to lead them to two of them. He was there for a third as well, but that was before he took over. He’s only continued the tradition, and all the boys in the group respected him for it. That, and his killer pipes and arranging skills. They always win first place in the choir competition, which is the most important, but in past years other titles like Best Arrangement and Best Soloist have alluded them.
With this year’s setlist, Dan hoped to change that.
The runners’ room was a small dressing room filled with production assistants for the judges, who were out in the audience at that moment listening to a bottom twelve choir from Kent. Dan wasn’t concerned about them. There was really only one to be worried about…
One of the runners approached Dan right away when he entered the room. “The Hearts?” she guessed.
Dan grinned. “That would be us.” He handed her his stationary, which had their three songs printed on it in red ink.
She added it to her clipboard and gave Dan a smile of her own. “I’m rooting for you guys. You’re always so good.”
“I know,” Dan replied. He gave her a nod and turned to be on his way back to the green room to continue rehearsing, but he almost smacked right into another body in the doorway. That body was much taller than Dan was, and smelled amazing. Like expensive cologne.
“Whoops, my bad,” it was a man, and he gave Dan an easy smile. His eyes sunk down and seemed to zero in on the heart pinned to Dan’s lapel, marking him quite obviously from Berkshire. “You’re a Heart,” he pointed out, looking back up.
After being struck for a second at how blue this man’s eyes were, Dan nodded. “I’m the Heart,” he replied. Being the one who did most of the work, he reserved the right to say that.
“Ah,” the blue-eyed man’s smile grew a little wicked, “Daniel. You’re very talented.”
“Dan,” he corrected straight away, “And I know. That’s why I’m in the position that I am.”
“Right. I’m Phil Lester,” he said and held his hand out. Dan shook it, and at the same time, he wondered where he had heard that name before. Once they let go, Phil gestured ahead of him. “I should go turn in the setlist. Pretty important.”
Once again Dan nodded. “Right, of course. See you,” he said and stepped aside to let Phil inside the room. He was only a few steps into the corridor when he heard the voices filter from inside the runners’ room. It was the same woman who took Dan’s setlist.
“Mr. Lester! I’ll take that.”
“Thank you, Karen. I have high hopes for this season. We’ve gone in a bit of a different direction.”
A pause. “I see. I don’t recognize any of your song titles.”
“That’s because I wrote them.”
Dan froze. He knew he recognized that name from somewhere…
“Really? Maybe it’ll be gold this year for the Counterpoints.”
“Let’s hope so. Good seeing you, Karen.”
Of course. The steepest competition of the night, the only other a cappella group in the competition, the current holders of the Best Arrangement title; the Rawtenstall Grammar Counterpoints. They were co-ed where the Hearts were only boys, and they had an actual advisor with a music degree to lead them. Dan heard through the grapevine that was show choir based Tumblr blogs that the Counterpoints coach was a babe and a half. And damn were they right.
The Counterpoints have been second place to the Hearts for years.
As Dan was still frozen in the corridor, Phil Lester walked right past him out of the runners’ room. “Break a leg out there.” The smirk was practically audible.
In a huff, he stomped back to the Hearts’ green room, because damn if the Counterpoints were going to beat them with originals. No. Not his group.
As soon as he entered, the others could basically feel that something was off. Some of the boys near the door looked concerned. They all matched; Berkshire Academy of the Sacred Heart had uniforms, like most schools, and the group always performed in them as a sign of pride and consistency.
“What happened?” asked another of the senior members, Thad.
Dan swallowed. “I met the Counterpoints’ coach.”
The energy in the room changed from apprehensive to interested, and a couple rose to their feet to get closer, hungry for gossip.
“Well?”
“What was he like?”
Dan held up his hands for quiet. “What they say is true, he is very, very attractive,” he told them, “But all that is beside the point. Their setlist is comprised of only originals. The coach wrote them, his name is Phil Lester, and he sounded sure that they were going to win.”
“They’ll have to beat us first,” stated Steve, a younger member whose uniform was a bit too big for him.
Still, Dan nodded in reply. “Exactly. And we are champions, aren’t we?” There were nods and words of agreement. “We know a capella. We’re the tradition of a capella. We’re classically trained, we’re all males, and we’re student run. We deserve to win, and we’re going to run those northerners into the bloody ground!”
“Yeah!” The group fist-pumped into the air together.
Dan grinned. “Our performance will be in less than ten minutes. Let’s do some practicing, and we’ll be sure to show them who really owns that stage,” he stated. With Dan at the head, the Hearts of Berkshire gathered around the piano, and they rehearsed their setlist for one last time.
Later, the lights were dim, and the Hearts were waiting in the wings to be announced. Dan bounced on his toes but held in all other impulses to fidget. His uniform needed to look immaculate for the performance or the looking good factor would not be on their side. Also, he was not happy with their performance time. They were the current title holders, they should be performing last, but apparently, the times were assigned randomly and there would be three groups going after them. One of them was the Counterpoints. He hoped that this wouldn’t hurt their chances of retaining their place.
Dan was soon handed a microphone, as the soloist, and told it was time to go on. Right beforehand, he turned to the rest of the group. “This is it, guys. If any of you mess up, we lose. We need to be perfect to win and beat those goddamn Counterpoints. So let’s go,” he implored them seriously. They all nodded in reply, and then Dan led them onto the stage.
“And now welcome to the stage, the reigning champions of the Masters of Show Choir national competition, the Hearts of Berkshire!”
When the lights came up, Dan raised his head and the microphone to his mouth, and four counts later their opener started. It wasn’t his favorite song of their setlist, but it was the most difficult, just for the sake of getting the crowd’s (and the judges’) attention. That and the second song went off without a hitch and with much applause, which gave Dan even more confidence in their winning and their choice to do a ballad as their finale instead of in the middle. It was a bit of a change from traditional performances, but if they didn’t change with the times then they weren’t going to get anywhere.
The ballad put Dan in the light on the apron, while the Hearts formed two small arcs behind him. He hoped to knock this one out of the park with just his voice alone, and at the same get that Best Soloist award.
“Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Look away, you rollin' river,
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you,”
When the rest of the group came in, all the lights brightened to highlight the lines. This number was different than the rest of their set, as this was the only number where Dan soloed the entire time and there was no dancing. It was meant to be slow with a focus on the vocals instead of the entire spectacle. In Dan’s opinion, this was the way to draw a crowd’s focus. That, and a spiced-up American folk song.
“Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri.”
Dan could see the Counterpoints in the left wing out of the corner of his eye. They were huddled together between two of the legs, watching intently, and Phil Lester was standing in the front with his arms crossed. They must be going next. Since Dan was focused on his song, he didn’t have time to think about it, but he could swear the coach was smiling. Like he was impressed or even encouraging his competition.
Pathetic. Dan would show them.
“Now the Missouri is a mighty river
Look away, you rollin' river
Indians camp along her border
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri.”
When their performance was over, the applause signified that there was no way they wouldn’t win. Dan first bowed on his own, then led the Hearts as a group to the cheering. The Counterpoints haven’t even gone on yet, but still he was confident. The audience loved them, he was sure the judges did as well.
On their way off the stage, their competition was still standing in wait. Dan met the eyes of Phil Lester for just a moment, and the latter spoke up. “Great performance,” he said.
“Thanks, I know,” Dan replied shortly, then followed the Hearts on their way off the stage without saying anything else. Fraternizing with the enemy was not something that was in their best interest, especially when their coach was so cute and all their members were telling them how good they were.
It felt like they were hardly off the stage when the Counterpoints jogged on to take their places. The Hearts spun around, still backstage, and looked to where their competition was setting up on a dark stage. They looked to Dan, wondering if they should continue to the green room like usual or some other instruction. Dan nodded towards the door to the house, and they left the right wing and filed in to take seats in the audience towards the back.
“Please welcome to the stage the current runner-ups and holders of the Best Arrangement award, the Rawtenstall Grammar School Counterpoints!”
There was a smattering of applause and some cheering. Thad, who was sitting beside Dan, started to clap but Dan reached over and grabbed his wrist to quickly end it. No one was going to pretend they were watching this for entertainment; it was simply for judgmental purposes. And spite.
Before the lights came up, the clapping started. Not applause, it was a rhythm. Cla-clap-clap. Then when it did brighten, the entire group was clapping the very quick and snappy rhythm, and a boy was walking towards the front of the stage. He was smaller.
“Woke up whistling like the wind blows
Looking out my window just to see the shine.”
And then, for a quick moment, all the males of the group sang a lick. Dan’s eyes went wide. It was only about three counts, but there were enough bass notes in there to make the Whiffenpoofs cry all the way from America.
“Baby, you might call it crazy, how I'm acting lately
Skipping through the sky,”
The lick came again, and the lot of the group joined in the backup of the little soloist. He looked smaller than the others around him, and there were a lot of others. All grouped together it didn’t look like the Counterpoints had a whole lot more singers compared to the Hearts, but now it was obvious that they did. They spread out throughout the entire stage, and each one stood out in lovely crimson red get-up that was each just slightly different. They were definitely not dressed in school uniforms.
“I see so clearly why I'm always feeling free
So I sleep when my dreams looking like reality
Don't it feel like
Na na na na na na na na na,
na na na na na”
And then the na-nas continued, and were joined with the clapping and choreography that would crush choirs that aren’t a capella. Besides their countertenor soloist, there were two others at the front of the group who seemed to be leading the rest. Dan studied them, and couldn’t help but compare himself to Counterpoint leads. The smallest, the countertenor, had all the high notes of a girl with the masculine appeal of a baby face. To his right was a tall blonde; his pecs could barely be contained by his button up which suggested he went to the gym on a regular basis. And on the left was a girl with flowing brunette locks and dark skin, and just an outstanding look.
Dan scowled. These were all advantages to put the Counterpoints above the Hearts in presentation.
The bridge of the song made several of the Hearts drop their jaws. The bass notes returned, and this time they were in three-part harmony, which was amazing. Dan couldn’t believe they had enough talented basses to harmonize the part… the Hearts couldn’t do that. Not really. The arrangement of this song was genius. Soon after that thought, Dan remembered that Phil Lester had written the songs for the entire set. He hoped the judges took into account that Dan was a student, and he took care of all the arrangements, and there was no way he was as talented as a teacher. Before he watched the Counterpoints, he could only hope as much.
Dan didn’t really pay attention past the opening number. That taste was all he needed to make his judgements. They were much better than they were last year, and no doubt that was because they lost. And while their sheer vocal and dance talents lessened his confidence just a bit, Dan was sure that the performance was just a bit too much. The flashy clothes, the pop song, and the choreography combined was a lot for a show choir and perhaps it didn’t fit into their category.
Besides, there was no way that little countertenor could out-sing Dan.
Once all the groups had performed, everyone was sitting in their designated seats in the audience for the awards. Thankfully the Counterpoints were on the other side of the house. Dan could still see them. It was a little nauseating that they were all holding hands as they waited, even with their coach.
“We might not win,” Thad leaned over and whispered.
“We will. Our fiercest competition paraded around that stage like it was an EDM concert, I doubt they’ll take out a group like us,” Dan scowled at the stage as the lights came on over a table awards and the panel of judges, “Like I said. Integrity trumps showboating.”
The awards started, and fifth place went first. There was a list posted on the website every year with official scores and places, but the top five got to be honored in front of everyone. And between fourth place and third place the smaller titles were given.
Here, the Hearts clapped politely for each award. Fifth place went to a school from Somerset, fourth to Kent. Then, everyone started to pay attention for the smaller awards. Dan sat up a little straighter.
“This year’s Best Arrangement award, judged on originality, musicality, and demonstration of skill goes to…,” the judge paused as he tore open the envelope, “No surprise, the Rawtenstall Grammar Counterpoints! Arrangement by Phil Lester.”
Dan’s expression darkened, but he still clapped slowly while Phil jogged onto the stage to accept the plaque and shake hands with the judges. His group was clapping and cheering obnoxiously in the background. He waved to them with a giant smile on his face before walking off of the stage and back to his seat while the judges moved on.
“And this year’s Best Soloist award, based on technique and overall performance goes to…” the pause was agonizing while the host picked up the plaque to read the name, “Dan Howell from the Hearts of Berkshire!”
The Hearts burst into loud applause, and Dan’s stomach exploded into butterflies within him. Not of nervousness, more of surprise, but then he quickly buried that. As he walked from his seat to the stage, he wore a grin of pride. He deserves this award, he was obviously the best. Take that, tiny countertenor of the Counterpoints.
He climbed the stairs and took the award from the host, then shook each of the judges’ hands. He got a congratulations from each one, and then he went back and sat down. He was very happy with the award, but he wanted to get on with it. There were still three places to announce.
Third went to Cambridge. The Hearts all clapped very politely, as usual, but now the anxiety was fresh in their chests as they waited for the next pace. They had yet to be mentioned, but neither had the Counterpoints. Dan thought the tension air could have been cut by a knife. And when second place was announced, he could have cut anything with a knife.
“Second place and the runner up for the championship goes to… The Hearts of Berkshire!”
No.
The Counterpoints all but erupted across the house but were quickly hushed. Dan hissed at his group to try and look happy, and together they walked to the stage to accept their award. Dan once again took it from the host, shook all the judges’ hands, and led the Hearts to stand next to Cambridge on the stage. His heart sunk even more when they announced the champion.
Amidst the applause and the cheers, Rawtenstall accepted their award and looked thoroughly happy and victorious. Phil Lester held up the trophy for the whole team to see, which inspired an entirely new round of cheering and carrying on. Cambridge clapped politely, and some of them even looked genuinely happy for their place. Dan, however, was seething. Those northerners were in for a storm come next season.
Songs featured in this part:
Shenendoah– arrangement by Peter Hollens
Na Na Na– Pentatonix
such a tragedy that dan and phil haven’t adopted their own dog yet so phil has to resort to communicating with his neighbor’s dog through the floor late at night
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