By Nathan Ensley, Associate Editor
For nearly two decades, the Franklin Central Hoosier Show Choir Classic has drawn some of the nation’s top show choirs to Central Indiana, establishing itself as a premier national competition. This year’s lineup was equally filled with phenomenal out-of-state groups, including Missouri’s Troy Buchanan, Illinois’ Glenwood, Mississippi’s Tupelo, and Massachusetts’ Waltham, who entered undefeated in their home region of New England.
Despite strong competition from out-of-state groups, it was Indianapolis’ powerhouses–Center Grove, Carmel, and Fishers–that claimed the top three spots in the large mixed and univoice divisions.
After three years of near-misses, the Center Grove Debtones finally won Franklin Central, breaking what some members, including senior member Nora Bowman, called a “curse.” Bowman, who plays Dolly Levi in the Debtones’ "Hello, Dolly!" section of their show, explained her reaction to winning.
“Finally winning at FC after years of first runner up felt amazing, but at the end of the day, I am not in show choir for the awards,” Bowman said. “I am in this activity because I love performing.”
For Bowman, the real highlight wasn’t the trophy. Instead, it was a fleeting but memorable moment on stage. At the beginning of the show, Bowman stands on top riser facing away from the audience, before descending down the risers during her opening solo.
“As I walked down the stage, towards the center mic, I not only saw the crowd of people cheering, but I also made eye contact with my fellow Debtones,” Bowman said. “It was truly such a special moment, and there was no group I’d rather experience it with.”
Center Grove also won the large mixed division, with Sound System taking Best Vocals, Best Visuals, and Best Show Design, while placing ahead of Carmel and Fishers for the second year in a row. Entering the season, Center Grove set its sights on taking Best Visuals from Carmel. When CG’s name was called for the caption award, junior Ethan Wood was stunned.
“My jaw dropped, and I was in total shock," Wood said. “I just couldn’t believe that we had managed to take the visual caption from one of the best visual groups in the nation.”
For Wood, winning Best Visuals was a surreal moment. But for senior dance captain Krishaan Vadia, it was proof of the group’s continued improvement, even from last week’s performance.
“Sound System’s performance this weekend really took a step up in terms of our facials game, and our choreography and vocals felt really well rehearsed and settled for this competition,” Vadia remarked.
Beyond just this competition, he credits their season-long commitment to precision and positivity as a key to their success.
“Compared to past seasons, we have done a much better job at maintaining a consistent attention to detail and an infectiously positive and ready-to-work attitude throughout the season.”
For many performers, competitions are more about the moments of emotional connection on stage than they are about winning. Carmel Accents junior Emma Graves recalled one such emotional moment during finals.
“I remember during the beginning of the ballad looking at all of these amazing women that I get to call my sisters in the eyes and seeing mutual tears from all of us,” Graves said. “It was like a silent acknowledgement that we all were a part of something bigger than ourselves together, and that this opportunity to perform meant everything.”
What began as a silent acknowledgment during the ballad became more tangible when Graves left the stage and embraced her fellow performers.
“Our finals performance was the most incredible one yet, you could tangibly feel the energy radiating off of each one of us, and it was something where we left the stage hugging and smiling, knowing that no score or opinion could take that feeling away from us.” Graves said.
Unlike many competitive sports, show choir thrives on an atmosphere of mutual encouragement, where groups celebrate each other’s successes as much as their own. That spirit of support was evident throughout the weekend, especially between local groups, Fishers Sound and the Center Grove Debtones.
“My favorite moment from the Franklin Central weekend was the bond that the Debtones had with Fishers Sound,” said Debtones junior Olivia Reddick. “When we won the competition, they were congratulating us! While our group was walking to our buses, Fishers was also walking to theirs, and even then, they were so hype and complimenting us!”
While groups may get caught up in the competitive aspect of the day, the host’s exhibition allows performers to set aside the fierceness of competition and shift their focus toward a shared love of show choir. Ahead of FC Singers’ performance, the crowd united in a show of unity.
“The whole auditorium started singing together, and we even turned on our phone flashlights, waving them in the air. It was the most cute thing ever,” said Fishers Electrum sophomore Kadin Peebles.
Ahead of Franklin Central, Waltham arrived in Indianapolis early and took part in a performance exchange with North Central, a local Indy group who was not competing this weekend. The groups performed for each other and afterward, were able to connect, relax, and dance together. Without the pressure to compete, both groups were allowed to fully appreciate the art of show choir.
“Cheering them on without the competition vibe made it feel more genuine and supportive, like we were all there to celebrate each other's talents rather than focus on winning,” North Central junior Alyssa Vasquez said.
The groups are united through their shared choreographer, Tori Brindis, who helped connect the groups and enable the exchange of styles.
“It was cool to see how our styles meshed, especially since we had a shared choreographer. It felt like we were all part of a bigger community, even though we came from different regions.” Vazquez said.
Hailing from New England, about 1,000 miles from Indianapolis, Waltham showcased a style distinct from what Vazquez saw at local competitions.
“Their style definitely felt a bit different from what I’ve seen from Indianapolis groups or my own choir. Waltham brought a unique energy and flair that was refreshing,” Vasquez said.
Moments like these highlight what makes national competitions so special–bringing together groups from across the country to share their unique artistry and perspectives on show choir. This was something Sound junior Idara Ekpo reflected on, pointing out how every show she saw offered its own distinct creative perspective.
“I took away how diverse and different every single show is. Not one show resembles the other, and it really makes you grateful for the realm of show choir becuase it offers you so many different creative perspectives.” Ekpo said.
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