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Around 50 students will perform at this year’s Tigers Roar show at Albert Lea High School.

Auditions were held the week before spring break, and now that spring break has ended, full rehearsals have begun with students now able to practice with full lighting and sound.

“It’s essentially a talent show,” said Erik Zinter, the high school’s vocal music teacher. “We have 15 different acts — instrumental, vocal, there’s show choir performing — so it’s just an opportunity for our students here at Albert Lea High School to showcase their talent.”

Tigers Roar, Zinter said, is a fun opportunity for students to show off their different interests and personalities in a way they may not be able to do typically in choir or band.

“It’s oftentimes something that they find themselves,” Zinter said. “It’s seeing kids in their own sort of personal space. They sing what they like or they play what they like. And you see a different personality of the student.”

Zinter said there are a few students who will be participating for the first time at this year’s Tigers Roar.

“It’s scary to get out there and sing in front of others, and I love it when a student takes that risk, takes that chance. There’s an opportunity for personal growth there,” he said.

One such first-time student is Ruby Mykkanen, a senior.

“I’ve watched it a few times, and I’ve always wanted to be a part of it, but I was too scared to in previous years,” she said.

Despite it being her first time in Tigers Roar, she will spend a lot of time on stage this year as she will be playing clarinet in the pre-show jazz band, playing clarinet in the clarinet choir, playing the soprano saxophone in the saxophone quartet, singing in show choir and doing a solo song while playing the piano — five separate acts altogether.

Mykkanen said she is most familiar with the clarinet, having played the instrument for seven years. She began playing the saxophone this year but said picking it up was fairly straightforward as it is similar to the clarinet. She also said she has been singing all her life.

Although still working out some logistics with costume changes, Mykkanen said she is confident things will be ready by performance night.

“I love performing,” she said.

The show will be held twice, once on Friday and once on Saturday. Both performances will be at 7 p.m. at the high school auditorium.

Tickets for Tigers Roar are $5 for everyone and available at the door the night of the performance.