The time has come to look the 2025 show choir season in the face.
Over the next two weeks, HomeRoom Show Choir will preview 225 different groups across three divisions, giving show choir fans from Connecticut to California all they need to know about the upcoming season.
Rankings are based on HomeRoom Show Choir’s 2024 Final National Rankings. Interested in digging deeper? View the 2024 Final National Rankings or see how the rankings were compiled.
Previews of 75 of America's top show choirs will release on January 1.
2024 #26 Ranked Choir: Brownsburg “Starlight Voices” (8th in Indiana)
2025 Director: Chad Stasser (11th season)
Choreographers: Joe Sato (9th season) and Cecily Pedregon (6th season)
Competition Schedule: Feb. 15 - Ben Davis, Feb. 22 - Homestead, Mar. 1 - Glenwood, Mar. 8 - Avon, Mar. 15 - Hosting, Mar. 22 - Noblesville
Starlight Voices was one of many groups in Indianapolis last year that had a killer show… see the fact that they’re ranked 26th nationally and 8th in Indiana. A split-caption win over Zionsville Choralaires started the season, and a second to Center Grove at Show Choir Nationals closed the season. The 2025 season will see plenty more chances to prove themselves, facing a ton of groups at Ben Davis and Homestead. Also, who would’ve had it on their bingo card that Brownsburg and Oak Mountain would face off in consecutive seasons? That will be exactly what happens at Glenwood. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #27 Ranked Choir: Carmel “Accents” (9th in Indiana)
2025 Directors: Kathrine Kouns (10th season) and Anna DeBard (6th season)
Choreographers: To Be Announced
Competition Schedule: Feb. 15 - Chesterton; Feb. 22 - Franklin Central; Mar. 1 - Lafayette Jefferson; Mar. 15 - Brownsburg; Mar. 22 - Show Choir Nationals
How does a choir with three division wins wind up ninth in its state? Regardless, Accents only came up short against Fishers Sound (twice) and Center Grove Debtones in 2024. The 2025 season will be a ride, with Sound, Debtones and Tupelo Synergy waiting at Franklin Central as well as Zionsville Choralaires, Los Alamitos Soundtrax and Petal Innovations at Show Choir Nationals. With a series of strong placements, Accents can own their identity in a crowded womens scene. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #28 Ranked Choir: Homewood “Nexus” (2nd in Alabama)
2025 Directors: Byron Mosquera (4th season) and Cody McDonald (2nd season)
Choreographers: Randy Sage (13th season) and Matthew Murphy (4th season)
Competition Schedule: Feb. 1 - Albertville; Feb. 8 - Oak Mountain; Feb. 15 - hosting; Feb. 22 - Auburn; Mar. 15 - Los Alamitos
Nexus came out swinging last year with one of their best shows ever. Minus an odd set of results from Ross in Ohio, Homewood only lost to one group last year (that group being Tupelo Synergy) and made finals twice. They’ll enter this next competition season full of momentum as they try and build further. - Tony Holeman, Southern Contributor
2024 #29 Ranked Choir: Pendleton Heights “Emerald Suites” (10th in Indiana)
2025 Director: Erin Archer (9th season)
Choreographers: To Be Announced
Competition Schedule: Will be announced January 1, 2025
A rare small single-gender group this high up in the rankings, Pendleton had a packed schedule in 2024 and made the most of it. From February 9 to March 9, Emerald Suites was undefeated, including a rare two-win weekend when they won small single-gender at Franklin Central on Friday, February 23 and at Mooresville on Saturday, February 24. Save for the usual confusion that is the ISSMA State Finals, the only small single-gender group Pendleton lost to all year was the Center Grove Accents. While Emerald Suites is at the top of their game, they will look to run a perfecta on small single-gender in 2025. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #30 Ranked Choir: Franklin Central “High Voltage” (11th in Indiana)
2025 Director: Jared Yoder (6th season)
Choreographers: Tori Brindis (10th season) and Marah Cover (4th season)
Competition Schedule: Feb. 1 - Fishers; Feb. 8 - Pike; Feb. 15 - Center Grove; Feb. 22 - hosting; Mar. 1 - Warren Central; Mar. 8 - Avon; Mar. 15 - Brownsburg
Winning is still the standard for High Voltage, and while they only did that twice in 2024, the good news is that they never lost to the same group twice - Fishers Sound, Carmel Accents and Center Grove Debtones each once apiece. High Voltage also took down perhaps the nation’s top standalone womens group, Tupelo Synergy, at Heart of America Nashville. An all-local schedule is ahead this season, with Debtones coming up at Fishers and Pike, Sound and Zionsville Royalaires at Best of the Midwest, and plenty more. Winning is still the standard, and doing so will take a great show and a lot of work this season. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #31 Ranked Choir: Petal “Innovations” (2nd in Mississippi)
2025 Director: Shanna Luckett (10th season)
Choreographers: Lexi Robson Buglewicz (6th season) and Braxton Carr (1st season)
Competition Schedule: Feb. 1 - Mississippi; Feb. 15 - Homewood; Feb. 22 - hosting; Mar. 8 - Biloxi; Mar. 22 - Show Choir Nationals
Petal Innovations had a similar year to that of Homewood Nexus in the sense that other than one standoff competition, Petal only lost their division once (to the Oak Mountain Muses) and made overall finals three total times. They too will look to build off their momentum this next competition year. - Tony Holeman, Southern Contributor
2024 #32 Ranked Choir: Whiteland “Expressions” (12th in Indiana)
2025 Director: Elena VanderVeen (3rd season)
Choreographers: Zack Triscari (3rd season) and Grace Pacheco (2nd season)
Competition Schedule: Feb. 1 - Decatur Central; Feb. 8 - Pike; Feb. 22 - Franklin Community; Mar. 1 - Warren Central; Mar. 15 - To Be Determined
Elena VanderVeen’s second season was truly a breakout one for Expressions. The Whiteland program as a whole struggled to find its footing after the pandemic. Enter VanderVeen, who spent a year at Fairfield in Goshen before coming to Whiteland. Expressions made the overall womens finals at Edgewood and was second overall to the mixed group Rhythm Masters at Sheridan in Ohio. Events like Decatur Central and Warren Central will give Expressions more opportunities for success in 2025. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #33 Ranked Choir: Tift County “Ladies Choice” (1st in Georgia)
2025 Director: Kyle Robinson (1st season as head director)
Choreographers: To Be Announced
Competition Schedule: To Be Announced
Ladies Choice pulled off two of the rarest feats in show choir at the same competition this last year: beating their mixed group and winning a Grand Champion title. With this historic landmark now in the rearview, Tift County looks to establish themselves in a more consistent manner against the other single gender groups of the south. In 2025, they’ll do it under the leadership of Kyle Robinson, who stepped up to head director following the retirement of Scott Rains. - Tony Holeman, Southern Contributor
2024 #34 Ranked Choir: Hastings “Dynamic Edition” (1st in Minnesota)
2025 Director: Tatum Mahlen (3rd season)
Choreographer: Ellie Jordan (6th season)
Competition Schedule: Jan. 18 - Gretna; Feb. 1 - Bloomington Kennedy; Feb. 8 - North St. Paul; Feb. 22 - hosting; Mar. 1 - Totino-Grace; Mar. 8 - Sioux City East
Dynamic Edition continued to run the table in Minnesota last year, claiming wins in the womens division at Bloomington Kennedy and Totino-Grace and also making finals at North St. Paul. In fact, the only two womens groups Hastings lost to all year were both Nebraska groups. The 2025 season will bring another tough field of Nebraska groups at Gretna alongside plenty of in-state competition and a few wild-card regional womens groups at Totino-Grace. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #35 Ranked Choir: Avon “Attraction” (13th in Indiana)
2025 Director: Drew Stainbrook (2nd season)
Choreographers: To Be Announced
Competition Schedule: Feb. 8 - Plainfield; Feb. 15 - Ben Davis; Feb. 22 - Poca; Mar. 1 - Mooresville; Mar. 8 - Hosting; Mar. 15 - Columbia City; Mar. 22 - ISSMA
Attraction was a successful group in 2024, winning the womens/prep division three times and only losing to Fishers Sound (twice) and Franklin Central High Voltage (once). The 2025 season is setting up to be much of the same, except avoiding Sound and High Voltage entirely. There are a couple matchups with Plainfield Femmes Fatales, a couple with Brownsburg Starlight Voices, and one against Huntington North, but there is absolutely a scenario in which Attraction goes undefeated all year and caps it off with a championship at the ISSMA State Finals. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #36 Ranked Choir: Papillion-La Vista South “Titan Radiance” (3rd in Nebraska)
2025 Directors: Brian Johnson (8th season) and Scott Dugdale (8th season)
Choreographers: Jarad Voss (1st season) and Tori Brindis (4th season)
Competition Schedule: Jan. 18 - Gretna; Feb. 1 - Lincoln East ; Feb. 8 - hosting; Feb. 15 - Elkhorn South; Feb. 22 - Hastings (MN); Mar. 8 - Lewis Central
Titan Radiance shone brightly during the 2024 season, making finals at Omaha Westside and Lewis Central. That was stacked with a trio of podium placements in division at competitions around Nebraska. While some may have questions about Titanium heading into 2025, Radiance has shown that it is secure in its identity. While a finals berth may not happen in 2025 (based on the caliber of competitions the group is attending), there should be plenty of opportunities to best other potent groups throughout the season. -Thea Lierman, Nebraska Contributor
2024 #37 Ranked Choir: Northridge “Starlights” (14th in Indiana)
2025 Directors: Sandy Maglos (7th season) and Carla Doles (3rd season)
Choreographers: To Be Announced
Competition Schedule: Jan. 25 - Ball State; Feb. 8 - Anderson; Feb. 15 - Medina; Feb. 22 - Homestead; Mar. 8 - TBD; Mar. 15 - Norwell; Mar. 22 - Noblesville
Starlights only competed four times in 2024 and only won once - when it mattered the most at the end of the season in Noblesville. They will have at least six outings in 2025 and will be halfway done with the season by the middle of February, when they started competing in 2024. Starlights will need the early competitions to work out flaws in their show, because the competition from Medina on out will be tough at every stop. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #38 Ranked Choir: North Central “Descants” (15th in Indiana)
2025 Directors: Jared McElroy (5th season) and Daria Weingartner (1st season)
Choreographers: To Be Announced
Competition Schedule: Feb. 8 - Pike; Feb. 15 - Center Grove; Mar. 1 - Lafayette Jefferson; Mar. 15 - Lawrence Central; Mar. 22 - ISSMA
It’s no secret that Descants started a little slow in 2024, placing third in division at Pike before missing out on the placements entirely at Center Grove. If the results are to change in 2025, the key will be in the start of the season. Pike and Center Grove remain the first two competitions, complete with several contenders at each. The back end of the season is mostly the same as well, with Lafayette Jefferson and Lawrence Central staying on the calendar from 2024. To win the title at a return to state, Descants will have to be better than Plainfield Femmes Fatales, Avon Attraction, and others. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #39 Ranked Choir: Broken Arrow “Tiger Momentum” (1st in Oklahoma)
Tiger Momentum is a bit of a weird addition to this list. It was the choir at Broken Arrow Freshman Academy and was traditionally a mixed group. However, in 2024, Tiger Momentum switched to being a womens group. It certainly didn’t impact the performance of the group, as they qualified for finals at Joplin and placed only one spot behind Tiger Mystique in its first competition of the season. Due to a lack of numbers in 2025, freshman members of Tiger Momentum are now part of Tiger Mystique, meaning that there will not be a dedicated Broken Arrow freshman choir for the first time in at least a decade. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #40 Ranked Choir: Auburn “Elan” (3rd in Alabama)
2025 Directors: Eron Smith (17th season) and Chris Schiller (3rd season)
Choreographers: To Be Announced
Competition Schedule: Jan. 25 - Tallassee; Feb. 8 - Oak Mountain; Feb. 15 - Homewood; Feb. 22 - hosting; Mar. 22 - Nationals
Having won their division at two of their four competitions last year and earning second at the other two to schools like Homewood and Cosby, Auburn Elan had one of the more overlooked and underrated years in the southern show choir circuit. They will look to try and match the recent single-gender surge sweeping the region this upcoming season. - Tony Holeman, Southern Contributor
2024 #41 Ranked Choir: Sioux City East “Prestige” (1st in Iowa)
2025 Director: Abby Sheppard (2nd season)
Choreographer: Tara Tober (5th season)
Competition Schedule: Jan. 18 - Ralston; Feb. 1 - Sioux Falls Roosevelt; Feb. 15 - Cameron; Mar. 1 - Bishop Heelan; Mar. 8 - hosting; Mar. 15 - Westwood
In a state that oftentimes prioritizes mixed prep groups over single-gender groups, Prestige is entering 2025 with a big reputation to uphold. They made finals twice in 2024, placing fourth at O’Gorman and sixth at Bishop Heelan. The 2025 season will span four states, going to Nebraska, South Dakota and Missouri before finally competing twice around northwest Iowa. The variety of opposition will test Prestige’s show against a multitude of hungry groups and give plenty of opportunities for improvement. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #42 Ranked Choir: Ankeny Centennial “Vortex” (2nd in Iowa)
2025 Director: Abby Hoshaw (2nd season)
Choreographers: Lexi Robson Buglewicz (2nd season) and Braxton Carr (2nd season)
Competition Schedule: Jan 18- Waukee; Feb 1- hosting; Feb 8- Waukee Northwest; Feb 22- Southeast Polk; Mar 15- Millard North; Mar 29- Heart Of America Orlando
Vortex saw great success in their 2024 inaugural season. Centennial decided to try their hand in the varsity single-gender realm (more akin to what Indiana does) and certainly did not disappoint. After their first competition was snowed out, Vortex ended third overall at Prairie Premiere, behind Linn-Mar 10th Street Edition and their own mixed group, Spectrum. Vortex went on to earn finals spots at their last two competitions of the season, placing behind top mixed groups from Iowa and Nebraska. This upcoming season, Vortex is hoping to continue rising in the ranks across the Midwest before taking on their first national competition in Orlando, Florida. - Ava Sammons, Iowa Contributor
2024 #43 Ranked Choir: Elkhorn South “Shockwave” (4th in Nebraska)
2025 Director: Molly Gonring (8th season)
Choreographer: Tori Brindis (3rd season)
Competition Schedule: Jan. 18 - Gretna; Feb. 1 - Lincoln East; Feb. 8 - Papio South; Feb. 15 - hosting; Mar. 1 - Grand Island; Mar. 8 - Sioux City East
Shockwave was one of the better single-gender groups from Nebraska in 2024. The group won first place in their division multiple times and even made finals twice. The 2025 season will bring a summer camp-themed show for Shockwave (hopefully not a jinx for snow during the season!). And the group will continue to have tough competition throughout the season, facing groups like Papillion-La Vista South, Millard North, and Omaha Westside. - Quinn Masek, Siouxland Contributor
2024 #44 Ranked Choir: Noblesville “New Dimension” (16th in Indiana)
2025 Directors: John Neubauer (9th season) and Julianne Fowler (3rd season)
Choreographers: Nancy Bocek (9th season), Marah Cover (9th season), and Eric J. Hayes Jr. (9th season)
Competition Schedule: Jan. 18 - Beavercreek; Feb. 1 - Fishers; Feb. 8 - Plainfield; Feb. 15 - Ben Davis; Feb. 22 - Homestead; Mar. 8 - Avon; Mar. 15 - Brownsburg; Mar. 22 - hosting
New Dimension was mostly the bridesmaid and not the bride in 2024, winning a sole finals round at Huntington North over Lawrence North and Jay County. That paired with several other podium finishes throughout the season and a fifth-place showing in the womens division at Show Choir Nationals. There’s plenty of room to take a step forward in 2025, although they will run into tough groups pretty much everywhere they go throughout the season. Taking the thirds and turning them into seconds would be a solid step forward. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #45 Ranked Choir: Aberdeen Central “Special Request” (1st in South Dakota)
2025 Director: Susan Appl (13th season)
Choreographers: Kevin Chase (7th season)
Competition Schedule: Jan. 11 - Sioux Falls Jefferson; Jan. 25 - Millard West; Feb. 15 - Sioux Falls Washington; Mar. 1 - O’Gorman; Mar. 8 - Sioux City East; Mar. 15 - hosting
Special Request has comfortably been the best single-gender group from South Dakota for the past few years. However, like Eagle Express, Special Request is going to tougher competitions in the 2025 season, facing off against other single gender groups like Simply Irresistible, Bellas, and Shockwave. Expanding their horizons and being successful against better competition is the next logical step for Special Request’s growth as a group. - Quinn Masek, Siouxland Contributor
2024 #46 Ranked Choir: Manchester “Touch of Swing” (4th in Virginia)
2025 Director: Robyn Kim (21st season)
Choreographers: Ryan Shapiro (3rd season)
Competition Schedule: Feb. 15 - Medina; Feb. 22 - Robert C. Byrd; Mar. 1 - Hanover/Mechanicsville; Mar. 15 - hosting; Mar. 22 - Powhatan
Touch of Swing did not shy away from competition last season. They faced off against some of the best single clef groups in the country, going up against the Nos. 5, 7, 8, 9, 19, 26, and 44 choirs in the rankings. They ended the season with three division wins, a finals appearance at Clover Hill, and a top-six finish at Show Choir Nationals. The 2025 season will see Touch of Swing test its mettle against mixed groups across Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia. - Ethan Parker, Founder
2024 #47 Ranked Choir: St. Thomas Aquinas “Saintsations” (1st in Kansas)
2025 Director: Catherine Boone (4th season)
Choreographers: To Be Announced
Competition Schedule: Jan. 18 - Blue Valley; Feb. 1 - Lincoln East; Feb. 15 - Harrisonville; Mar. 8 - Webb City
Saintsations had a season last year that seemingly crescendoed comp after comp. After starting the season off with a third place finish at Blue Valley, they ended it with a division win at Lincoln Northeast. Aquinas will be competing against some of the best single-gender choirs Nebraska and Missouri has to offer this upcoming season. It will be interesting to see if Saintsations can crescendo this momentum into 2025. - Ethan Parker, Founder
2024 #48 Ranked Choir: Broken Arrow “Tiger Mystique” (2nd in Oklahoma)
2025 Director: April Martin (2nd season)
Choreographers: Lexi Robson Buglewicz (5th season) and Braxton Carr (3rd season)
Competition Schedule: Feb. 15 - Urbandale; Mar. 1 - Totino-Grace; Mar. 8 - Southlake Carroll; Mar. 22 - Heart Of America Los Angeles; April. 12 - Jenks
Broken Arrow Tiger Mystique had an interesting go-around last season. Under the new direction of April Martin, Tiger Mystique was able to dominate a regional-friendly competition schedule, making overall finals at Joplin, Keller Central, and Jenks. Broken Arrow also got to compete in the stacked single-gender division at Wheaton Warrenville South, receiving fourth place against some of the nation’s best. This season, Tiger Mystique is slated to attend five competitions for the first time since 2019, traveling the extra mile when they head to sunny Los Angeles, California for Heart of America. - Ethan Parker, Founder
2024 #49 Ranked Choir: Clover Hill “Iridescence” (5th in Virginia)
2025 Director: Nicole Whitby (3rd season)
Choreographers: Ben Eklund (2nd season) and Matt Watson (1st season)
Competition Schedule: Feb. 15 - hosting; Feb. 22 - Robert C. Byrd; Mar. 1 - Hanover/Mechanicsville; Mar. 15 - Manchester; Mar. 22 - Powhatan
The 2024 season was quite the varied one for Iridescence. An overall womens win at Cabell Midland to start off the season was followed by a second at Manchester, a fifth in overall small finals (mixed and womens) at Fairfield and a second in small womens at Powhatan. The 2025 season will give Clover Hill a trio of in-state opportunities to prove itself, facing large crowds at Hanover and Powhatan. Turning those seconds into wins would firmly establish Iridescence into the future. - William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
2024 #50 Ranked Choir: Brandon “Bellas” (3rd in Mississippi)
2025 Directors: Charles Woodard (8th season) and Lauren Woodward (4th season)
Choreographers: Anne Chapman (3rd season)
Competition Schedule: Jan. 25 - Millard West; Feb. 1 - South Jones; Feb. 8 - Northeast Jones; Feb. 15 - Chesterton; Mar. 1 - Madison Central; Mar. 8 - Mt. Zion; Mar. 29 - hosting
Don’t let this ranking fool you, as Brandon Bellas has a strong case for the most misleading record of the year. They won their division four times, made finals twice (earning third at both), and even beat extra-large mixed groups and renowned southern single-gender powerhouse Oak Mountain Muse”. While the final result wasn’t ideal for Brandon, they ended the season with plenty to be proud of and plenty to work off for this upcoming (and high-mileage) season. - Tony Holeman, Southern Contributor