In a week where large lineups and epic showdowns abound, these four stood out as the class of the country!
Davenport Central Great River Show Choir Invitational
The Lineup (all choirs from Iowa unless noted)
4A: Bettendorf “Surround Sound”, Clinton “River Royalty”, Davenport North “Northside Establishment”, Iowa City “4th Avenue Jazz Company”, Johnston “Innovation”, Millard West “West in the Groove” (NE), Mundelein “Sound” (IL), Noblesville “NHS Singers” (IN), Prairie “The Ambassadors”
3A: Wahlert Catholic “Impulse”
2A: West Liberty “Voices Unlimited”
Womens: Davenport North “Center Stage”, Millard West “Uptown” (NE), Noblesville “New Dimension” (IN)
Prep: Johnston “Synergy”, Millard West “Swing Cats” (NE), Mundelein “Reverb” (IL), Prairie “Focal Point”
Middle School: Sudlow “UpRoar!”
Great River returns five finalists from the 2022 edition of the contest and only loses sixth-place Jenks. In its place, the competition picks up Millard West, Noblesville and Prairie. It is safe to say that Johnston’s prep group, Synergy, will not have a third-place showing like they did last year. Mundelein is coming off a sweep of Fort Atkinson, and Johnston is coming off an emphatic win at Urbandale. Noblesville hasn’t placed lower than second this season, and Millard West just came out third in a battle of Nebraska’s best at Elkhorn South last week. Prairie has a win to its name this year and Wahlert Catholic took the choreography caption at Logan last week. Iowa City has made finals in all four contests it has entered this year, and Davenport North is two-for-two this season as well. Needless to say, there is no shortage of storylines or talent hitting the stage on Saturday.
Homewood South Central Classic
The Lineup (all groups from Alabama unless noted, divisions are by group size)
Large Mixed: Auburn “Varsity Singers”, Glenwood “Titan Fever” (IL), Jackson Academy “Encore” (MS), Jackson Prep “Reveillon” (MS), Northwest Rankin “The Ambassadors” (MS), Oak Mountain “Singers”, Petal “Soundsations” (MS)
Small Mixed: Albertville “CenterStage!”, Boaz “Elite”, Chelsea “Out Of The Blue”, Jasper “Phoenix”, Spain Park “Rhapsody in Blue”, Sumrall “Legacy” (MS), Sylacauga “Signature”
Single-Gender: Albertville “CenSations!”, Auburn “Elan”, Auburn “Men at Work”, Oak Mountain “The Muses”, Petal “Innovations” (MS)
Middle School: Albertville “VocalPoint”, Auburn “Adrenaline”, Berry “Bravura”, Clinton “Ambassadors” (MS), Jackson Academy “Showtime”, Jackson Prep “Fusion” (MS), Lake Forest “Revolution” (TN), Northwest Rankin “Reverb” (MS), Oak Mountain “Elevation”, Sumrall “Impact” (MS)
Are we sure that Homewood is in Alabama? By the looks of it, Homewood has been moved from the Birmingham metro to the Jackson metro in Mississippi. JA, Jackson Prep, Northwest Rankin and Clinton Junior High all come from the immediate vicinity, and Petal makes the trip over from the Hattiesburg area. In addition, Glenwood comes down from Illinois, strong off a third-place finish at Troy Buchanan in Missouri. Besides all that, Alabama stalwarts Auburn and Oak Mountain are both out to show that the home state can mix it up just as well as everybody else. With only five finalist spots, at least two of the seven large mixed groups will be on the outside looking in. Petal is the surest bet to make finals; anything else after that is conjecture. Can a small mixed group run the table and play spoiler in finals? While it is unlikely, Spain Park has been known to pop off in the past. Also, look at that monster middle school division!
Omaha South Classic
The Lineup (all groups from Nebraska unless noted)
Mixed: Bellevue East “Take II”, Elkhorn “Excel”, Fort Worth Southwest “Southwest Effect” (TX), Mitchell “Friend de Coup” (SD), Norris “Gold”, Omaha North “Explosion!”, Papillion-La Vista South “Titanium”, Sioux Falls Roosevelt “Executive Suite” (SD), Westside “Amazing Technicolor Show Choir”
Womens: Norris “Titanaires”, Papillion-La Vista South “Titan Radiance”, Sioux Falls Roosevelt “Capitol Harmony” (SD), Westside “Simply Irresistible”
Prep: Buena Vista “Show Choir”, Norris “68th Street Singers”, Papillion-La Vista South “Titan Express”, Westside “Warrior Express”
Middle School Tier I: Aspen Creek “Accelerando”, Beatrice “Delegation”, Elkhorn “Classics”, Gretna “Anthem”, Lewis Central “Titan Force” (IA), Liberty “Flight”, Millard North “Stampede”, Papillion “Reflections”
Middle School Tier II: Alice Buffet “Bravo”, Logan Fontenelle “Perfect Harmony”, Millard North “Cavallo”, Ralston “Riot!”
Westside versus Papio South never disappoints. That right there would put this in COTW contention. Add in Mitchell, you’re looking pretty good. Add in one of Texas’ hottest groups, that’s pretty interesting. Add in Sioux Falls Roosevelt, Elkhorn and Norris, and that’s one stacked finals field. For all intents and purposes, Westside will not be sending all three of its choirs to finals like it did here in 2022. Westside hasn’t lost a vocals caption, choreo caption, or competition yet this year, besting Millard West last week at Elkhorn South. Millard West is the only group that Papio South has lost to this year. Mitchell debuted last weekend at Urbandale and came home solidly in second. Norris is riding a streak of 16 straight finals appearances. Sioux Falls Roosevelt remains one of the stalwarts of South Dakota. Fort Worth Southwest competed at Legacy on Thursday night and will make the drive on Friday for a loaded weekend. In the prep division, give a call to Omaha Buena Vista, making its competition debut under the direction of Marcella Dunn.
Waconia Star Power
The Lineup (all groups from Minnesota unless noted; divisions are by school size)
Large Mixed: Bemidji “Vocalmotive”, Bloomington Jefferson “Jefferson Connection”, Bloomington Kennedy “Rhythm in Gold”, Millard North “Infinity” (NE), Neenah “Vintage” (WI), Sioux Falls Jefferson “Legacy” (SD), St. Francis “Bridge Street Singers”
Small Mixed: Benton Community “Celebration Co.” (IA), Millard North “Intensity” (NE), Waseca “State Street Singers”, West Salem “Singsations” (WI)
Womens: Bemidji “La Voce Ballo”, Bloomington Jefferson “Jive”, Bloomington Kennedy “Blue and Gold Velvet”, Millard North “Illumination” (NE), Sioux Falls Jefferson “Revelry” (SD), West Salem “Vivace” (WI)
Middle School (noncompetitive): St. Francis “Vocalocity”, Valley View “Valley View Voices”, Waconia “Shockwave”
Another typical loaded Waconia lineup, as per the usual. Bemidji continues to roll during its final year of direction under Chris Fettig, who founded the group. Bloomington Kennedy is having arguably the best season in program history with its Moulin Rouge-themed show. St. Francis has two vocal and choreo captions to its name so far this season. Sioux Falls Jefferson swept at Sioux Falls Roosevelt. Bloomington Jefferson is no worse than fourth this year. Millard North is three-for-three on finals this year, and Neenah came out of nowhere to capture third at Fort Atkinson last weekend. In small mixed, Benton has beaten formidable choirs like Iowa City. Whoever makes finals, it will be a fantastic show.
Check back early next week for a recap of how it all went down on the stage Saturday!
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