The 2024 show choir season across the heartland was a thrilling ride, one that captivated audiences and set the stage for exciting changes in the coming year. As the curtain fell on the 2024 competition circuit, these three states emerged not only with shining performances but with a renewed sense of artistic ambition, each bringing their unique flair to the regional stage.
Last season in Missouri was nothing short of spectacular. Neosho Choraleers and Webb City Singers stole the local spotlight with their innovative performances, hard-hitting vocals, and captivating choreography. It was a neck-and-neck battle between these two groups at several points in the season, with Choraleers consistently edging out the competition with their scores for refined vocals. Also at the top of the ranks was Troy Buchanan Express, a choir from the eastern reaches of the state known for competing in large-scale, out-of-state competitions. Other groups such as Joplin Sound Dimension, Carthage Soundwave, and Rock Bridge City Lights also rose above the middle of the pack in the Heartland last season.
Broken Arrow "Tiger Rhythm" performs at the 2024 Wheaton Warrenville South Choral Classic. (PHOTO: Nathan Ensley / @nensley.photography)
In the Oklahoma scene, Broken Arrow Tiger Rhythm saw some major success, as with all of their recent seasons. Tiger Rhythm is known for putting on a full production rather than "just" a show choir show, which has judges and audiences in awe every season. Jenks Trojanaires also saw a very successful season after introducing their new choreographer, Dominic Matas.
Looking at Kansas’ competition scene, Blue Valley’s BV Singers had a triumphant season, especially considering it was only their third year as a competitive choir. Sam Dollins has led this group to considerable triumph in a short three years, which serves as a testament that even the youngest choirs can do amazing things.
Fans and performers in the Heartland can expect 2025 to be a season where storytelling, choreography, and musicality intersect in innovative ways. The use of interactive technology, immersive stage design, and an even more ambitious fusion of genres will take audiences on a journey unlike anything they’ve seen before. 2025 is poised to be a year where the heartbeat of show choir is louder, bolder, and more exciting than ever before. Keep your eyes on these three states—Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma—as they set the stage for the next era of show choir excellence in the Heartland.
Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about the Midwest states coming into this season:
What’s Changed?
McDonald County Rhapsody ‘n Rhythm welcomed Gracie Hollis, an alum of the program, as their new choreographer this season. Hollis succeeds their previous long-term choreographer Zachary Pettit. Additionally, last season, after Stacie Campbell’s departure, Bailey Elery was hired as director, so she will be in her sophomore season with the choir.
Troy Buchanan Express and Soundwave have a slightly different directing situation this year. For the last several years, the groups have been under the direction of Andrew Drinkall and Ryan Cooper. Last year, Drinkall completed his final season as director of Express and Soundwave, leaving Ryan Cooper as the solo director moving forward.
Taylor Carroll is directing her first season with Rock Bridge City Lights after Jennifer Moorman’s departure. Moorman spent two years with the group after the exit of their previous director, Mike Pierson.
Smith-Cotton New Score Singers said goodbye to their previous director, Mitchell Martinez, and are welcoming a new director this season, Avery Mather. Smith-Cotton will also be reviving their second competitive group this year. The intermediate mixed group formerly known as Vocal Velocity (retired after the 2022 season) will be reintroduced as Smith-Cotton New Voices.
Who’s on the rise?
During the pandemic, as with most groups across the nation, Webb City Singers took a decent hit and struggled to get back into the swing of things during their first year back. Since then, however, they have made an impressive uphill climb, placing consistently higher each season. Their most recent season slingshotted them into some major success with their “NYE Y2K” show. The lowest they placed all season was third overall at Nevada; they placed second overall at several other comps, and took Grand Championships at Mt. Vernon and Platte County, where they went head to head with groups such as Joplin Sound Dimension, Carthage Soundwave, Oak Park Oak Street Singers, and Rock Bridge City Lights.
After a year of falling short of the glory of their 2022 season, Joplin Touch of Class came back with a vengeance in their most recent season, under the direction of long-time director Monica Reynolds-Brown and new director McCade Gordon. They made finals at every competition they attended, outscored Sound Dimension–their varsity mixed sister choir–on two separate occasions, and had the crowd chanting along with their Hocus Pocus-themed show at every performance. Last season, there was a new level of competitive spirit from this powerhouse womens choir, and it can be expected that they will carry this spirit into their upcoming competition lineup, which includes Mt. Vernon, Neosho, Webb City, and Keller Central.
Who has something to prove?
Joplin Sound Dimension seemed to peak at second place last season, despite the crowd’s enthusiasm for their Jumanji-themed show. They’ve had several seasons in a row where they’ve placed in finals either really well or not at all, so they will be returning with a whole new thirst for success this season. And to add fuel to the fire, they were bested by their sister choir, Touch of Class, on two separate occasions last season. This season, Joplin Sound Dimension isn’t just aiming to compete–they’re aiming to conquer.
Carthage Soundwave is entering the 2025 show choir season with a point to prove. After a season of near-misses and hard-fought battles, they are hungrier than ever for victory. After consistently placing third overall, fourth overall, or not making finals at all, Soundwave will definitely be aiming to make a comeback from their less-than-ideal season last year. With a change-up in their traditional style of show, the group has been exploring a new avenue that they hope will lead them to victory. Soundwave is known for doing shows with specific storylines and more off-the-wall themes, such as The Muppet Show, The Fate of Icarus, and Across the Stars; this year, though, they are doing away with the concept of an intricate storyline show and taking a more traditional east coast/upper Midwest approach with their pirate show. It can be expected that Soundwave will be channeling their collective disappointment from last year into a fierce determination to rise to the top.
What competitions are looking good?
January 18: Blue Valley Tiger Takedown is going to be an interesting one this year. Last season, Neosho, Carthage, and Webb City went head-to-head for the top spot, but this year, they will have a whole new level of competition as Westside Amazing Technicolor Show Choir from Nebraska enters the Kansas competition scene. Pair that with Pleasant Hill, St. Thomas Aquinas, Pleasant Hill, and Harrisonville, and finals spots become scarce very quickly.
February 15: Neosho The Sho, only in its sophomore year of existence, already welcomed some big-name Midwest choirs last year including Troy Buchanan, Jenks, Webb City, Joplin, and Carthage. All of these groups look to be returning for a second go around at Neosho, which means that it will be an exciting and tight race for those top six spots in finals. Additionally, since several of these schools are bringing both a varsity mixed group and a womens group, there will be plenty of opportunity for some diversity in the final round.
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