Mid-Season Mix-Ups: A Southern Show Choir Recap (Feb. 15th)

Another weekend of the 2025 Southern Show Choir season is over and another set of results is in! Plenty of contentious battles were settled, leaving plenty of implications for the rest of the season.

HOMEWOOD SOUTH CENTRAL CLASSIC

(@omsingers)

The premiere competition of this weekend had everything one could ask for and more: First-place swaps, a loaded top division, groups from different regions, and so much more. To add to the hysteria, not only was there a second runner-up placement with the Best Vocals caption, but there a rarely seen (but greatly received) no-set finals to cap off the night due to the incoming weather threat. The finals were nothing but pure-blooded old fashioned show choir, and Oak Mountain came out on top of an extremely tight three-group bubble. Not only did Oak Mountain win the title of Grand Championship, but their women's group won that division as well. The other two divisions, mixed middle and small middle, were rounded out by Albertville and Sylacauga, respectively. Final results are as below (five finalists):

GC) Oak Mountain “Singers” (BC/Show Design)

1RU) Petal “Soundsations”

2RU) Wheaton Warrenville South “The Classics” (BV)

3RU) Auburn “Varsity Singers”

4RU) Northwest Rankin “The Ambassadors”

1st in X-Large/Large) Petal “Soundsations”

Only group in Middle Division) Albertville “CenterStage!"

1st in Small Division) Sylacauga “Signature”

1st in Single Gender) Oak Mountain “The Muses”

TUPELO KING CITY CLASSIC

(@grenada_visions)

While the top placement went as expected (Grenada swept), there was still some interesting competition for the remaining finals spots. Briarwood, an underdog with considerable promise, came out on top of the rest to claim first runner-up. The other two divisions here, 2A and the single-gender division, were rounded out by Phoenix and Biloxi, respectively. Final results are as below (five finalists):

GC) Grenada “Visions” (BV/BC/Show Design)

1RU) Briarwood “Radica”

2RU) Biloxi “Sound Surge”

3RU) Jackson Academy “Encore”

4RU) Jackson Prep “Reveillon”

Only Group in 4A) Grenada “Visions”

1st in 3A) Briarwood “Radica”

1st in 2A) Jasper “Phoenix”

1st in Single Gender) Biloxi “Sound Sirens”

WEST JONES INVITATIONAL

(@attacheshowchoir)

Along with every other universal constant, Clinton completes another sweep this past weekend at the West Jones Invitational. Beyond that though, there are some very other interesting placements at this competition. Starting off, although their division was non-competitive, Purvis showed up and shocked a large portion of the show choir world with their 1RU placement over the likes of Northeast Jones, Sumrall, and West Marion. Northeast Jones tentatively settled the debate for “Best 2A Group in Mississippi” by winning their division and beating South Jones. West Marion not only swept the 1A field (which was rounded out by Clinton Christian Academy in second and Pass Christian in third), but they actually received third runner-up at this competition over a strong South Jones group. Overall results are as below (No finals):

GC) Clinton “Attachè” (BV/BC/Show Design)

1RU) Purvis “Pizzazz”

2RU) Northeast Jones “Gold Horizons”

3RU) West Marion “New Era”

4RU) South Jones “Company”

Only group in 4A) Clinton “Attachè”

1st in 2A) Northeast Jones “Gold Horizons”

1st in 1A) West Marion “New Era”

Only group in Single Gender) Purvis “Pizzaz”

OUT OF TOWN

This last weekend, Brandon returned to Chesterton to try and avenge last season's runner-up placement. This year's battle was against not only the likes of Carmel, but also included Linn-Mar, Mt. Zion, and many others. Brio ended up placing third in prelims and finishing in fourth after finals, behind Linn-Mar, Carmel, and Carroll. Bellas didn't fare well either, missing out on single-gender finals. Brandon looks to bounce back in two weeks at the Madison Central Deep South Classic against the likes of Grenada and Oak Mountain.

Oxford went northeast this last weekend to the Capital City Classic in West Virginia and unfortunately did not place as high as they were hoping, missing out on finals and finishing second in their division. However, Poca is no weak group, making this divisional second place still something to respect. As of right now, Oxford must wait for about a month before competing again at the Enterprise Southland Show Choir Classic.

LOOKING FORWARD

With another weekend fading into the background and the season in full swing, here’s a brief look below at some of the upcoming competitions (and featured groups) this next weekend. Thanks for reading, and be sure to come back soon later this week for a preview of each event listed below!

Auburn Show Choir Showdown (Auburn, AL)

-Homewood “The Network”

-Oak Mountain “Singers”

-Homewood “Continuum”

-Briarwood “Radica”

-Spain Park “Rhapsody In Blue”

Petal Show Choir Invitational (Petal, MS)

-Clinton “Attachè”

-Grenada “Visions”

-West Jones “Imagination”

-West Marion “New Era”

Rome Three Rivers Show Choir Invitational (Rome, GA)