By Owen Miller, Illinois Contributor
Sporting an almost identical lineup to El Paso with a couple more out-of-state contenders, Glenwood sets the stage for a rematch between Illinois' best. Does Mt. Zion have what it takes to come back and defend their title? Will the successful groups be from Illinois or somewhere else?
Festival Division
Pekin "Noteables"
Highland "Dissonance"
Herscher "Class Act"
Brownsburg "Bella Voce"
Peoria "Soundwave"
Three of the five groups in the open division carry over from El Paso, each missing a podium finish last weekend. The smaller division at Glenwood will see Pekin, Herscher, and Peoria step up to the podium. No group in this division has won this season, so one group will earn a first-place finish for the first time. Herscher has been knocking on the door of a grand championship all season, finishing second in their first two competitions before finishing fourth last weekend in a stacked festival division. Brownsburg Bella Voce will bring an Indiana flair to the division.
Single-Clef Division
Mt. Zion "You've Got Male"
Homewood "Nexus"
Wheaton Warrenville South "Esprit"
Milton "Octave Above"
Naperville North "Vivant"
Brownsburg "Starlight Voices"
Mt. Zion "Les Femmes"
The story of this division will be the southern powerhouse, Nexus, against Illinois' best, Esprit. Each group has two grand championships on the season, with their only losses coming to the Oak Mountain Muses. Nexus is not traveling with their mixed group this weekend, making winning the single-clef division their one and only mission. Esprit, on the other hand, is riding the momentum of a big win last weekend at El Paso, sweeping the single-clef division and placing fourth in finals. However, it would be remiss to count out Vivant and Les Femmes, who finished just below Esprit last weekend. Brownsburg Starlight Voices just came out on top of single-clef finals at Homestead last week. It is also important to note that there will be single-clef finals at Glenwood, with three groups making it to a nighttime performance. This stacked single-clef division will be something to keep an eye out for this weekend, and it will be a fight to secure that third single-clef final spot.
Single-Clef Finals Predictions
GC: Wheaton Warrenville South "Esprit" (BC)
1RU: Homewood "Nexus" (BV)
2RU: Naperville North "Vivant"
The main fight is between Nexus and Esprit, but Vivant should be the third group to sneak into single-clef finals. Vivant was right there with Esprit last weekend and will surely be ready to go for a rematch this weekend. Esprit's clean choreo should keep them secure for best choreography, but they are going to have to bring it vocally to keep up with Nexus. For Nexus, it's the exact opposite. The choreo isn't as clean, but their vocals are what's going to keep them in the running for grand champions. The single-clef final should be a tight finish, but Esprit should prevail to bring them their third win of the season.
Mixed Division
Jackson Academy "Encore"
Huntley "Harmonics"
Quincy "Electric Blue"
Milton "Choralation"
Marquette "Center Stage"
Brownsburg "Spotlight Singers & Company"
Naperville North "Entourage"
Wheaton Warrenville South "The Classics"
Mt. Zion "Swingsations"
With Oak Mountain dropping out, this mixed division has become Wheaton Warrenville South's to lose. After a dominant sweep last weekend at El Paso, The Classics look to repeat exactly what they did last weekend against a nearly identical lineup. However, Swings and Entourage will be hungry to dethrone The Classics as the top group in Illinois, with the latter being the defending champion. The out-of-state foes in Jackson Academy, Milton, Marquette, and Brownsburg could prove to be roadblocks for The Classics as well, as out-of-state groups tend to do very well at Glenwood. However, the main thing to look at is how well Mt. Zion can bounce back after two uncharacteristic finishes these past two weekends. They are the defending champs, and a brand-new panel could give Mt. Zion the confidence they need to take down Wheaton Warrenville South for the first time since 2020. Since there are single-clef finals, there are only five mixed finals spots, putting a bit of an extra pinch on the field.
Mixed Finals Predictions
GC: Wheaton Warrenville South "The Classics" (BV/BC)
1RU: Mt. Zion "Swingsations"
2RU: Naperville North "Entourage"
3RU: Brownsburg "Spotlight Singers & Company"
4RU: Jackson Academy "Encore"
Everything that could have gone wrong for Swings last weekend did; which is why it could have possibly been seen as a fluke. Swingsations visually can keep up with The Classics, as they are both choreographed by Dwight Jordan, but their vocals leave a lot to be desired. Entourage can sing the roof off of the building, but visually their show is questionable at times. As for the out-of-state groups, Brownsburg and Jackson Academy just aren't quite yet on the level of the top Illinois groups this season. Wheaton Warrenville South has the entire package, clean vocals with clean choreography, priming them for a huge win heading into a bloodbath at Mt. Zion to close their 2025 season.
Glenwood will be the appetizer for what should be an epic finish to the Illinois show choir season at Mt. Zion and Wheaton Warrenville South. Will Wheaton Warrenville South remain number one, or will Entourage and Swingsations make a strong push to close their season? The winner at Glenwood will control that narrative.