The 17th annual show choir competition on Saturday will be the last of its kind in Albert Lea.

Choir Director Diane Heaney said the show has traditionally been done as a fundraiser to help Albert Lea’s show choir get to other competitions — which they’re doing less and less.

“We’re not going to try to compete at these weekend competitions because students are so busy,” Heaney said. “We only went away one weekend this year and still not all the students could come.”

Heaney said just because there will no longer be a big competition event in Albert Lea doesn’t mean the show choir program is ending. There will still be show choirs to perform at concerts, and Heaney said they’ll be able to change the show a bit and do more shows around town.

“There’s plenty of schools that have show choirs like that who don’t compete,” Heaney said.

She said she knows she’ll miss seeing bigger schools perform at the competition, but she’ll be able to take small groups of students to other competitions if there’s the desire.

“Not one student seemed upset about this,” Heaney said. “I think the community will miss it more than the kids will.”

She also said they’ll likely see more of the kids in future years when they’re doing performances around town.

Heaney said she remembers the first years of putting on the show at the old high school on Clark Street, where they weren’t able to sell food because of the logistics of the building. While she did start it herself she said there have been many parents throughout the years who helped to volunteer and coordinate the show.

Show choirs are also changing — Heaney said some of the schools Albert Lea competes against have four to five paid assistants, budgets up to $100,000 and frequent costume changes. Albert Lea’s show choir mostly runs on the money it raises at its annual show — about $10,000.

“For us to compete against that is a little disheartening,” Heaney said.

For now the community can still see a big show Saturday at the Albert Lea High School. Choirs start performing at 9 a.m. and evening finals will be at 7 p.m.

“I hope everyone comes out and enjoys it,” Heaney said.

Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Lunch and concessions will be served all day in the commons area, with a dinner starting at 5 p.m.

Schools competing include: Hastings High School, Jackson County Central High School, North High School of St. Paul, East High School of Sioux City, Iowa, Hill-Murray High School of Maplewood, New Prague Senior High School, Emmetsburg (Iowa) High School, Onalaska (Wis.) High School, Adrian High School and Bloomington Jefferson High School.