By Anne Marie Wright, Heartland contributor
Show choir season has officially begun in the Midwest, and the first competition in southwest Missouri is the Mt. Vernon Mid-Winter Classic, hosted by the pride of the Midwest small school divisions, Mt. Vernon Vocal Motion. Mt. Vernon also introduced a middle school group, Velocity, this year. The event will play host to many groups competing for either the first or second time this season.
The 2A division features Green Ridge Harmony and Cabool Rhythm in Blue, both debuting their competition shows this year.
Similarly, the 3A division competitors are East Newton Patriot Singers, Seneca Starstruck, Hollister Blue Harmony, and El Dorado Springs Sound Collage. Despite the 2A and 3A groups performing early in the morning, there is still plenty of energy and healthy competition between the groups.
4A features another three stalwart choirs: Cassville Center Stage, McDonald County Rhapsody N' Rhythm, and Nevada Soundsational Singers. All three will compete for the first time in 2025. McDonald County could stage an upstart bid for finals, depending on how well their show goes.
In the single-gender division, there are four solid groups that will go up against each other this weekend: Webb City DoMENance, Nevada Treble Effects, Joplin Touch of Class, and Webb City Bella Voce. The two Webb City groups in this mix made their winter-season debut at Blue Valley Tiger Takedown in Overland Park, Kansas, last week, with DoMENance taking first place in the mens division, beating out Neosho Phenomenon and Pleasant Hill Powerhouse. Bella Voce took second place in the womens division, outscoring groups like Carthage Suite Sounds, Neosho Sugar and Spice, and Pleasant Hill Hilltop Harmony. It will be exciting to see Bella Voce and Touch of Class going head-to-head this week, especially looking at their neck-and-neck history over the last few seasons. Last year, Touch of Class had an overall more successful season, but the season prior, Bella Voce placed consistently higher at every competition. So, this year is a complete toss up for which womens group will land on top at the Mid-Winter Classic.
There are five choirs competing in the 5A division, both returners to the competition and fresh faces. Hickman Harmonix, only in their second year as a competitive choir, will be introducing their set for the first time this weekend. This will also be the first competition of the year for Marquette Center Stage, Rock Bridge City Lights, and Joplin Sound Dimension. Webb City Singers, reigning grand champs of the Mid-Winter Classic from last season, kicked off their season last weekend at Blue Valley, taking second runner-up in finals under the Neosho Choraleers and Westside Amazing Technicolor Show Choir.
It’s safe to say that this weekend is going to be a tough competition for these groups. Themes on stage will range from Friday Night Lights to baking to Scooby Doo to Super Mario and everything in between. Six groups will make finals, and ultimately, one will be crowned the winner.
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