Burroughs, Burroughs, Burroughs, Esperanza, and Burroughs Lead Western 2026 Midseason Rankings

By Jackson Ferrier, Western contributor

Three regional experts were surveyed on 35 of the region's top show choirs. Ensembles from California, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah were considered.

Note: Rankings were voted on before March 21st competitions. 

Advanced Mixed

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

2.. Burbank “In Sync” (1 first-place vote)

3. Los Alamitos “Sound FX”

4. Horizon “Step on Stage”

5. Diamond Bar “Marquis”

6. Cypress “High Voltage”

7. John F. Kennedy “Executive Order”

8. Boulder Creek “Broadway Bound”

9. Glendora “Royal Stewarts”

10. Hart “Collective Harts”

Receiving Votes: Valley Vista “Vocal Thunder”, Brea Olinda “Masquerade”

With the Western show choir season in full effect, the advanced divisions are looking as strong as ever. In Tier 1, Los Alamitos Sound FX came up just short of both Burbank In Sync and John Burroughs Powerhouse at Esperanza and Burbank, respectively, but will have a chance to redeem themselves at Oceanside in a few weeks. Both Burroughs and Burbank took their competition sets across the country in a huge way, with Powerhouse taking home Best Vocals, Best Visuals, and overall Grand Champion at the Wheaton Warrenville South Choral Classic in Illinois, and In Sync winning Best Vocals, Best Choreography, and overall Grand Champion at Marysville Showcase in Ohio. Sound FX will take their show nationally this weekend to Heart of America Orlando, where they will face off against giants like Johnston, Westside, and many more. The Tier 2 division is looking stacked as ever, with Diamond Bar Marquis and Cypress High Voltage consistently taking top placements and looking like they could be in shape to move up to Tier 1 in the next few years. 

Treble

Note: Groups from all levels of treble divisions were considered.

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

2. Los Alamitos “Soundtrax”

3. John F. Kennedy “First Ladies”

4. Burbank “Blue Impressions”

5. Los Alamitos “Xquisite”

6. Valley Vista “Tempest”

7. Boulder Creek “Heart & Soul”

8. John Burroughs “Decibelles”

9. Brea Olinda “Spellbound”

10. Troy “Ladies First”

Receiving Votes: Cypress “Pink Thunder”, Los Alamitos “Axcent”, Diamond Bar “Solitaire”, Horizon “Show Divas”

With a head-to-head competition at Burbank Blast, John Burroughs Sound Sensations took the win over Los Alamitos Soundtrax, although it could be anyone’s game at Oceanside later this season. Sound Sensations also took a division win at Wheaton Warrenville South, receiving Best Vocals and Best Visuals in the Treble Division. With Soundtrax competing at HOA Orlando this weekend, they could take the top spot, especially if they pull off the win at Oceanside to finish off the year. Boulder Creek has also experienced success both near and far, winning treble finals at HOA Nashville and coming in as the highest-scoring treble ensemble at Valley Vista.

Intermediate Mixed

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

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

3. Carlsbad “Sound Express”

4. Oceanside “Soundwaves”

5. Martin Luther King “Legacy”

Receiving Votes: Golden Valley “Melodies of Gold”, Shadow Ridge “Stellar FX”

In what is always a unique Western division due to the mixing of standalone programs and "prep" groups from advanced programs, the Intermediate Mixed division has already seen plenty of tough matchups this year. Sound Waves and Connexion matched up at Burbank, where Connexion snagged the win in a tight one-point decision. Carlsbad is a group on the rise, as Sound Express will compete in advanced at Cypress and Oceanside.

Novice Mixed

1. Esperanza “Reverberation” (3 first-place votes)

2. Granada Hills “G-Notes”

3. John F. Kennedy “Ambassadors”

4. Los Altos “LA Dynamix”

5. Eisenhower “Ike Singers”

Receiving Votes: Norco “New Generation”, John A. Rowland “Infusion”, Willow Canyon “Evolution”

The Novice Mixed division has seen some great matchups this season. Burbank saw three of the ranked groups compete, with Esperanza winning the division, Kennedy placing second and Eisenhower taking third.  The large fields will continue with a five-choir division coming up this weekend at Cypress. Reverberation will face Norco, Rowland, Hart Hart 'n Soul, and North Torrance.

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”, Oceanside “Riptides”

The Bass Division is thriving more than ever this season. Groups like John Burroughs Men@Work and Xtreme continue to dominate the division, but JFK Secret Service and Diamond Bar Radiant are making waves in the division and could be real threats for the top groups in upcoming years. Of course, the Bass Division isn’t as much about placements as it is about making jokes and having fun, and all of the bass groups this year have succeeded at that, with some of the funniest shows in recent years.