Davenport Central becomes the latest choir to be named champion of the FAME National Finals, while Burbank, Diamond Bar, Valley Vista, Western Sierra, Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy all earn division wins at John Burroughs.

The last of this year’s national competitions looms in Branson, and John Burroughs hosts a veritable slew of choirs in Burbank.

By Anne Marie Wright, Heartland contributor After many amazing events and performances across the area, the 2026 season here in Missouri is coming to a close. This weekend, Webb City will host their annual Showcase, one of the final events for Midwest choirs each year. The conclusion of this season is bittersweet for many, but especially for Webb City and Joplin students. Melinda Benham and Monica Reynolds-Brown, two long standing directors in the Southwest Missouri area, wil

PHOTO: Nathan Ensley | A move into the thick of competition season has resulted in the deepest field yet in Trochella's four-year history.