By Dylan Moss, Illinois contributor
The 2024 season was a solid and pretty eventful one for Illinois show choir. Wheaton Warrenville South had a slower start, but rode the momentum over time into a massive victory over Urbandale, a perennial powerhouse. Mt. Zion netted three wins, including one all the way in Waltham, Massachusetts. El Paso-Gridley launched right back into the high they experienced in 2022 with an upset victory over Wheaton North. Manteno Magic were able to win their first competition in six years. And of course, it would be remiss to not mention the monstrous Choral Classic event hosted by Illinois’ very own Wheaton South. Illinois saw a pretty busy season in 2024, but will 2025 compare? That of course remains to be seen, but there's no shortage of info and news to ponder about.
The 2025 season looks to be another very competitive year for the state, with multiple groups going to big out-of-state destinations and multiple in-state smackdowns featuring the very best of both Illinois and the nation. However, there was a bit of a rocky road leading into this season. Both Unity and Watseka had to cancel their seasons before fall even started, and Peotone, Herscher, and John Hersey had to cancel their annual events, making the competition field the smallest it’s been in perhaps decades. However, the competitions that are happening still look to be both big in-state and national showdowns that the whole nation will have their eyes on.
Last year’s biggest contenders are all back and looking to make this season better than ever. Wheaton South and Mt. Zion will retain their usual creative teams, with choreographer Dwight Jordan having choreographed Mt. Zion for about 50 years at this point. The fruits of plenty of creative team shakeups from all across the state will also show this season. Groups like Glenwood have gotten their numbers back up compared to last year, and groups like Wheaton North decided to add onto already big numbers and create an around 75-member behemoth of a group. And although a few choirs fell this off season, we will get to see a new group, as the Huntley Harmonics enter the field for the first time. Through thick and thin, Illinois remains strong and ready for a brand new year, and this season is sure to be full of surprises.
What’s Changed?
Springfield’s program has gone through a complete rework, entering the season as Collage after former Paxton-Buckley-Loda director Christina Mauck took over and opened up the program to all three of Springfield’s high schools.
Naperville North’s creative team continues to expand, as they have renamed their girls group Vivant, and both groups will now be working with choreographers Joe Sato and Cecily Pedregon.
Wheaton North continues to shake up their choreography team, as Randy Sage joins current choreographer April James to make a new dynamic duo for the group.
Grace Pacheco has joined the creative team for El Paso-Gridley Hi Fidelity. She will work alongside longtime choreographer Michael Talamonti.
Who’s On The Rise?
Heather Pistorious took over the Sullivan Singers program in 2024, and they have since rose to the top of the festival division. As the program continues under Pistorius, they will look to continue their high placements in small mixed competitions in both Illinois and Missouri, as well as being in the finals conversation in more and more comps.
Naperville North saw Tess Tazioli enter the program’s creative team in 2024 as well as aforementioned choreography duo Joe Sato and Cecily Pedregon. Tazioli famously orchestrated Fishers Sound’s rise to the top of the Single-Gender circuit in Indiana, so her leadership (as well as learning from such a successful choreography duo) means the future of this program is looking bright.
Dwight D. Eisenhower notched a massive finals berth at a loaded Sauk Prairie competition in January, scoring fractions of points behind Waubonsie Valley in prelims and only finishing one spot behind Sound Check in finals. They have the potential to make waves in their return to open mixed within the Illinois borders this season.
Who Has Something To Prove?
Manteno won their first Grand Championship in six years last year, which turned heads towards them around the nation. This year, Manteno will look to get another win to their name, but they will face tough competition everywhere they go. However, a win in one of these tough fields will send a message that they are here to stay.
Huntley is a new program this season out of far northern Illinois. Former Neosho assistant director Lauren Eakes Loving is at the helm of Harmonics. They're certainly not taking the easy way in, as Harmonics will be competing in the open/championship mixed division this year.
Mt. Zion Les Femmes had an incredible 2024 season with division wins in all comps but two and taking Best Choreography from some of the best single-gender groups in the nation at WWS. They will face insane national competition again this season, most notably at Chesterton, as well as in-state juggernaut Esprit. They have the perfect proving grounds to cement themselves as a single-gender national powerhouse, however they will need to rise to the occasion.
Which Competitions Are Looking Good?
Feb. 8: Crete-Monee will be Illinois’ first competition of the season after Mt. Zion’s move to March. Many groups will debut for the first time here, and this will be the first big festival mixed throwdown of the season, along with featuring some larger groups like Manteno and El Paso-Gridley.
Feb. 22: The El Paso-Gridley Showdown will be heated in every division, as Illinois mainstays like Wheaton Warrenville South, Mt. Zion, Naperville North, and Manteno will battle it out at the top, while a solid open mixed undercard and a bloodbath of a festival division also await. Wisconsin groups Sauk Prairie and Fort Atkinson will also look to factor into the finals conversation.
Mar. 1: Glenwood The Event is looking to be a big throwdown much like the late 2010s. WWS, Mt. Zion, and Naperville North all return to action from the previous weekend, however this time around they are faced by out of state invaders like Brownsburg, Milton, and Jackson Academy. With this level of competition, there are many ways it could shake out, and it’s sure to keep the nation on its toes.
Mar. 8: After its move to March, the Mt. Zion Midwest Invitational looks to have become a national affair, as in-staters Glenwood, WWS, and John Hersey clash with a smorgasbord of national contenders such as Brandon, Loveland, Neosho, Grenada and Troy Buchanan. This is sure to be one of the best competitions of the season and it will be exciting to see how it shakes out.
Mar. 8: Quincy used to host a comp mainly attended by smaller programs; however, the Showcase of Excellence has exploded in popularity in the last couple years. Wheaton North, El Paso-Gridley, and Naperville North headline this year's event, as well as a host of smaller schools from in and out-of-state. It is anyone’s guess how this competition goes below the top three.
Mar. 15: While not the monstrous event it was last year, the Wheaton Warrenville South Choral Classic is still the fantastic comp it always is, featuring a stacked lineup of groups both from Illinois and all around the nation (including a California appearance for the second season in a row). The Choral Classic remains one of the season’s marquee events and will likely be one of the most closely contested, so it is absolutely one to keep your eyes on closely.
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