While Show Choir Nationals is stealing many of the headlines this week, there’s still plenty of action going on outside of Nashville in the show choir world!
Bishop Hendricken Lil’ Rhody Rumble
The Lineup (groups from Massachusetts unless noted)
Large Mixed: Andover “From Start to Finish”, Shepherd Hill “Fantasy”, Somerset Berkley “Electrify”, South Windsor “Choral Spectrum” (CT), Tantasqua “ENCORE!”, Waltham “Music Unlimited”
Small Mixed: Dartmouth “Dynamix”, Leominster “Ignition”, Music Academy of Western New York “SHOUT” (NY)
Womens: Andover “Nothin’ But Treble”, Shepherd Hill “Illusion”, Somerset Berkley “Amplified”, Tantasqua “Applause”, Waltham “Music Express”
It’s year three of the Lil’ Rhody Rumble, and there is not one single other active show choir in the state of Rhode Island yet. Sigh. Maybe one day. But the out-of-state choirs, most from Massachusetts, do pack quite the punch. Waltham was the top New England group at Andover last week and will look to take home the win here. That would make it a three-peat for Music Unlimited, as they have also won the first two Rumbles. South Windsor and Shepherd Hill were fifth and sixth last weekend and should factor into the podium conversation. Small mixed sees the season debut of SHOUT, who will compete here before competing at Show Choir Canada in a couple weeks. In single-gender, Andover and Shepherd Hill are the presumptive favorites going in, but it is by no means a signed, sealed and delivered division before the competition takes the stage.
Powhatan Diamond Classic
The Lineup (groups from Virginia unless noted)
Large Mixed: Atlee “Illusion”, Clover Hill “New Dimensions”, Cosby “Spotlight”, Musselman “Kaleidoscope” (WV)
Medium Mixed: Herbert Hoover “High Impact” (WV), Midlothian “Just For Show”, Mills E. Godwin “Debut”, Martinsburg “Good Times” (WV), Poquoson “Evolution”, Ravenswood “Rave Revue” (WV), Scranton “First Edition” (PA), Thomas Dale “Knight Scene”
Small Mixed: Amherst County “Amherechos”, Goochland “Surround Sound”, Hanover “Sound FX”, Kecoughtan “Harbor Lights”, Martinsburg South Middle “South Spirit” (WV)
Large Womens: Atlee “Elegance”, Cosby “Rhapsody”, James River “Anything Goes”
Medium Womens: Clover Hill “Iridescence”, Douglas S. Freeman “Harmony in Motion”, Massaponax “Decibelles”, Matoaca “Up Front”, Mechanicsville “New Horizons”, Midlothian “City Lights”, Thomas Dale “Knightingales”
Small Single-Gender: Amherst County “Belles of Amherst”, Atlee “Debonair”, Atlee “Serenade”, Henrico “Company 302”, Kecoughtan “Touch of Jade”, Martinsburg “GLITZ” (WV)
The season finale for Virginia brings with it several intriguing storylines. Cosby is currently running a six-competition win streak, but Clover Hill also has two wins this year and should give them an honest run for the money in large mixed. Medium mixed has four choirs from Virginia and four choirs from out of state, including three who are skipping out on the West Virginia state contest. Hanover is undefeated in small mixed this year and will look to close out and go four-for-four against the field. In the womens division, the only group Douglas S. Freeman has lost to this year is John Burroughs – a pretty stout list that includes Cosby Rhapsody. Look for them to claim the overall win from the middle division. This competition will also see the first time ever on stage for Henrico, a school in the same district as DSF as well as Godwin and Glen Allen.
Cypress Star Reflections
The Lineup (all groups from California)
Advanced Mixed: Brea Olinda “Masqerade”, Hart “Sound Vibrations”, John F. Kennedy “Executive Order”
Novice Mixed: Hart “Hart ‘n Soul”, John F. Kennedy “Central Intelligence”, Katella “Royals”, Martin Luther King “Legacy”, Norco “New Generation”
Advanced Womens: Brea Olinda “Spellbound”, Hart “Hartbreakers”, John F. Kennedy “First Ladies”
Novice Womens: Brea Olinda “Tiffanys”, Walnut “Rhapsody in Blue”
Cypress hosted Star Reflections in 2023 for the first time since 2015, and no division featured more than two choirs. The 2024 edition features only one of four high school divisions with only two choirs, a nice sign of growth for the resurgent competition. In the headlining advanced mixed division, Hart and JFK will square off in a rematch of Esperanza, where Sound Vibes were second and Executive Order was third. The competition is actually hosted at the Anaheim Union High School District PAC at Kennedy, adding another wrinkle to the field. It is unlikely that Brea can play spoiler, but anything is possible. Novice mixed features no groups who have won a division over competition this year. It’s also an interesting split between the two ‘prep’ groups from Hart and JFK and the ‘standalone’ choirs from Katella, MLK and Norco. First Ladies are undefeated so far in womens divisions and should take the win in advanced.
Heart of America New York City
The Lineup
Mixed: Daniel Hand “VIBE” (CT), Edgewood “Music Warehouse” (IN), Olentangy “Keynotes” (OH)
Womens: Edgewood “Sophisticated Ladies” (IN), Olentangy “She-Notes” (OH)
HOA’s last ride in New York City (for the time being, at least) features only five choirs from three programs. However, it’s not like it’s a random five-choir gathering. Daniel Hand held New England captive for another season this year with their Velveteen Rabbit-themed show and are looking to secure their fourth win of the season. Olentangy is a group that started out with a pair of second-place finishes to start off the season, including taking a caption off Marysville, but has cooled off a little bit. Edgewood has notched four second-place finishes this year in a robust Indiana scene. Both womens groups will make finals as well, creating the potential for chaos near Central Park.
West Virginia State Show Choir Festival
The Lineup (all groups from West Virginia)
Championship: Huntington “Illusions”, Hurricane “Red Hot”, Poca “Visual Volume”, Robert C. Byrd “Vocal Intensity”, Winfield “General Admission”
Festival: Capital “Voices in Perfection”, Doddridge County “Bel Canto Bulldogs”, Grafton “Entertainers”, Jefferson “Pop Singers”
Womens: Cabell Midland “Rhythm in Red”, Hurricane “Heat Wave”, Winfield “Emerald Elegance”
A year after only two choirs competed in the championship division, the top class sees a nice bump to five choirs this year. Hurricane is looking for their ninth straight win at states. Cabell Midland’s win in 2014 stands as the last time Red Hot hasn’t triumphed. RCB won the festival division last year and Winfield was third, while Poca was the winner of a third mixed division last year and is making the jump straight up to large mixed this year. Who does that leave in the festival division? Jefferson, who was fourth at Twinsburg in Ohio and second at Martinsburg last weekend; Capital, who has a trio of finals appearances this year; and Grafton, who also has a finals appearance in 2024. The state contest’s run as the season closer for West Virginia is also ending this year, as Martinsburg is moving its competition back to March 29, 2024.
The show choir world will fall silent for a week after this, so check out a livestream when you can to get your fix!
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