Anne Marie Wright

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, will be retiring...

Stock image: Derrick Knight | Carthage took their first win since 2019, and out-of-state groups Broken Arrow and Mt. Zion outpaced great Missouri ensembles.

From all reaches of Missouri to Kansas and even some Oklahoma groups, this season promises to bring more than its fair share of close battles and surprises.