Advanced and Novice Both Show Strength in 2026 Western Postseason Show Choir Rankings

By Andrew Estrella, Western contributor

Another season in the West has officially come and gone, and what a season it was. Arizona continued its rapid rise, Advanced Mixed 2 became a cage match week after week, and lower divisions produced some of the most exciting growth stories anywhere in the country.

Advanced Mixed (both tiers)

1. John Burroughs "Powerhouse" (2 first-place votes)

2. Los Alamitos "Sound FX" (1 first-place vote)

3. Burbank "In Sync"

4. Horizon "Step On Stage"

5. Diamond Bar "Marquis"

6. Cypress "High Voltage"

7. John F. Kennedy "Executive Order"

8. Valley Vista "Vocal Thunder"

9. Glendora "Royal Stewarts"

10. Boulder Creek "Broadway Bound"

11. Carlsbad "Sound Express"

12. Hart "Collective Harts"

13. Chaparral "Platinum FX"

14. Brea Olinda "Masquerade"

15. La Cueva "Underground"

Receiving Votes: Pacifica "Encore", Bonita Vista "The Music Machine"

The biggest showings of the year came from the competitions at Burbank, Esperanza, Valley Vista, Cypress, and John Burroughs, all of whom put together spectacular lineups.

At the top once again is Powerhouse. One of the more stripped-back designs in recent Powerhouse memory somehow still felt unmistakably Burroughs. Powerhouse completed an undefeated season, notably winning at Wheaton Warrenville South, breaking the “California curse.” Most folks that watched Powerhouse this year walked away with a severe case of disco fever. The show was packed with the same burning intensity and emotional commitment that has defines Powerhouse, but wrapped inside a bubbly and bright concept.

Los Alamitos Sound FX also swung for the fences creatively this year, unveiling perhaps the most stylistically different show in program history. “The Hollow” gave audiences a side of Sound FX they had rarely seen before - eerie, unsettling, theatrical, and incredibly ambitious. Even in a season filled with experimentation, FX still felt distinctly like FX. This of course led them to some massive victories, notably their HOA Orlando win over groups like Johnston, ATSC, and Mt. Zion. Their choreography somehow continues to become more inventive every single season, and the in-person jumpscare moment instantly cemented itself as one of the most memorable visual effects of the entire year, though it's not shocking that Sound FX would be the kids to pull it off.

Not far behind was Burbank In Sync, who assembled their most complete show of the post-pandemic era. A early-season win over Sound FX really showed In Sync didn’t come to play this year. Vocally, In Sync remains one of the strongest groups in the country, with a tone and stylistic identity few ensembles can replicate. Their show design has improved steadily year after year, and this season felt like the culmination of that growth. Everything worked together cohesively, creating a production that felt polished from top to bottom.

Horizon Step On Stage continues to be one of the most reliable programs anywhere in the West. Even when facing disadvantages, Horizon somehow always manages to show up and show out. There is a fire in the way they perform that radiates through every movement they make, and their consistency this season was once again remarkable. A debut in Tier 1 and wins over groups like Kennedy and Diamond Bar really helped put SOS in the top four.

The Tier 2 scene may have been the deepest it has ever been, led by Diamond Bar Marquis, Cypress High Voltage, and Valley Vista Vocal Thunder. All three groups showed just how serious they are, and all three proved they belong firmly in their respective ranks.

One of the most important storylines of the season came from Arizona as a whole. For the first time ever, all three members of the Arizona “big three” cracked the rankings (and placed in the top ten), a massive milestone for the region. What makes it even more impressive is that each program maintained a completely distinct identity while doing it. Rather than simply replicating California styles, Arizona programs are developing their own flavor of show choir and the results are becoming impossible to ignore.

Further down the rankings, placements often came down to who simply had the better day. The lower half of advanced mixed was brutally competitive all season long, with results shifting nearly every weekend. At that level, showmanship usually is not the deciding factor anymore. Nearly every group can perform visually. The true separator becomes music.

Treble (all divisions)

1. John Burroughs "Sound Sensations" (3 first-place votes)

2. Los Alamitos "Soundtrax"

3. Burbank "Blue Impressions"

4. John F. Kennedy "First Ladies"

5. John Burroughs "Decibelles"

6. Los Alamitos "Xquisite"

7. Valley Vista "Tempest"

8. Boulder Creek "Heart and Soul"

9. Los Alamitos "Axcent"

10. Cypress "Pink Thunder"

Receiving Votes: Brea Olinda "Spellbound", Horizon "Show Divas", Diamond Bar "Solitaire", Troy "Ladies First"

At the top, John Burroughs Sound Sensations remained dominant, unsurprisingly.  Burbank Blue Impressions took back their position in the top three, perfectly complementing the success of their mixed counterpart. Their confidence and consistency reached another level this year, helping solidify them as one of the strongest treble groups in the West.

One of the more fascinating battles all season long came between Burroughs Decibelles and Los Al Xquisite. Both groups remained undefeated entering Oceanside, but Decibelles ultimately took down Xquisite. The Burroughs, Los Alamitos, and Valley Vista treble groups helped create arguably the most competitive intermediate treble landscape the West has seen in years. These gals are tough.

Boulder Creek Heart and Soul also emerged as one of the season’s breakout groups. They are absolutely not a group to overlook anymore. Massive strides throughout the years cemented them firmly as a great treble group. Their success at Heart of America and Monsoon Madness are nothing to ignore. Poise and grace is Heart and Soul's game, putting together a very successful show.

Intermediate Mixed

1. John Burroughs "Sound Waves" (2 first-place votes)

2. Los Alamitos "Connexion" (1 first-place vote)

3. Oceanside "Soundwaves"

4. Martin Luther King "Legacy"

5. Golden Valley "Melodies of Gold"

Receiving Votes: Mayfair "Showtime"

John Burroughs Sound Waves feels like an advanced group competing in intermediate. As Burroughs’ mixed prep ensemble, they continue to embody exactly what a developmental group should be, nurturing and preparing them to move up into Burroughs’ advanced ensembles. Clean, polished, disciplined, and incredibly well-trained, Sound Waves would have little trouble holding their own at a higher division level.  Los Alamitos Connexion remains one of the most consistently enjoyable groups in the division year after year. Connexion showcases the classic Los Al formula: fun show design, smart pacing, and polished execution. Oceanside Soundwaves once again exceeded expectations this season and comes in as the best in class behind the prep groups. Few groups maximize their resources quite like Oceanside does, and their passion and gratitude onstage remain impossible not to root for.

Novice Mixed

1. Los Altos "LA Dynamix" (1 first-place vote)

2. Granada Hills "G-Notes" (1 first-place vote)

3. Norco "New Generation"

4. Valley Vista "Voltage" (1 first-place vote)

5. Eisenhower "Ike Singers"

6. John F. Kennedy "Ambassadors"

7. Willow Canyon "Evolution"

8. Western Sierra "The Alphas"

9. John A. Rowland "Infusion"

10. Mater Dei "Show Choir"

Receiving Votes: Glendora "Highland Heirs", Sandra Day O’Connor "Harmonics", Shelley "Sentinels", Cypress "Shock Waves", Diamond Bar "Diamondtones"

The novice division quietly produced some of the best growth stories anywhere in the West this season. Los Altos, Granada Hills, and Norco New Generation all put together stellar seasons and deserve significantly more attention than they received nationally this year. JFK Ambassadors showcased strong young talent all year long while maintaining the classic show choir pizazz that the Kennedy program has become known for.

One of the biggest breakout moments of the season came from Willow Canyon, who debuted what many considered a generational show for the program. It felt like a massive milestone moment and could very well become the launchpad for a jump into intermediate next season.

Mater Dei also burst onto the scene with one of the strongest first-year outings the circuit has seen in quite some time. Considering the prestige and resources behind the school, this feels less like a one-off success story and more like the beginning of something much bigger.

Bass

1. John Burroughs "Men@Work" (3 first-place votes)

2. Los Alamitos "Xtreme"

3. John F. Kennedy "Secret Service"

4. Diamond Bar "Radiant"

5. Hart "Unleashed"

   Receiving Votes: Cypress "Voltage Unlimited"

It was a return to form for the bass division this year, as both M@W and Xtreme delivered classic gut-busters to liven the day for every audience. After them, Kennedy continued building their program and Diamond Bar put together a consistent season. Hart claimed the last spot in the rankings over Cypress and Oceanside.