South Dakota Groups Take Center Stage at Aberdeen Central

By Quinn Masek, Siouxland contributor

With the Mitchell Show Choir Classic canceled for this season, Aberdeen Central's competition is the last competition in South Dakota. Featuring groups from the Sioux Falls area and smaller parts of the state, this is a great way to close out the South Dakota show choir season.

Due to there being six groups in attendance, Aberdeen doesn’t have a finals round. Every group gets to perform twice with feedback in between performances, and they do one award ceremony at the end of the evening.

Open Division

Groton “Prismatic Sensations”

Underwood “Amplify”

Sioux Falls Washington “Stage Lights”

O’Gorman “Ovation!”

Harrisburg “Eclipse”

Sioux Falls Washington “Classic Connection”

It looks like Groton and Underwood are taking inspiration from California, since their first competition of the season is in the middle of March. Stage Lights has a reasonably good season going for them so far, making finals at Lincoln Southwest back in February. Stage Lights has taken third place at this competition every year since 2021, which might change this weekend. Ovation added this competition after they withdrew from Sioux Falls Jefferson. So far, Ovation's Jacob Thomas is three for four on taking a soloist award. This is also Ovation's first time attending this competition since 2017. Back then, it was held in the middle of February. Coincidentally, that was also the most recent time Ovation has taken a grand champion trophy. So far, Eclipse has only made finals once this season, at Sioux Falls Roosevelt. That was also the only competition Ovation didn’t make finals this season. It could be a tight competition between Eclipse and Ovation. But of course, Classic Connection is the fan favorite here. They’ve won this competition the past two years. It’s also worth mentioning that Classic Connection is the only group in attendance with a win under their belt this season.

Predictions

Grand Champion: Sioux Falls Washington “Classic Connection” (BV/BC/BB)

1st Runner Up: O’Gorman “Ovation!”

2nd Runner Up: Harrisburg “Eclipse”

3rd Runner Up: Sioux Falls Washington “Stage Lights”

5th Runner Up: Groton “Prismatic Sensations”

6th Runner Up: Underwood “Amplify”