Colorado Choirs Headline Scottsbluff Old West Choir Fest in 2026

By Blake Chamberlin, Nebraska contributor

The Scottsbluff Old West Fest takes place this Saturday and is one of only two western Nebraska events each show choir season. Boasting nine high school groups across three divisions, most groups will only perform at this competition exclusively and the other western Nebraska competition, the Alliance NCDA Festival.

5A

• Fossil Ridge “Fossil Fusion”

• Vista Ridge “Vista Ridge Rhythm” 

Both schools from this division are actually from Colorado. Vista Ridge has won this competition the past two years. Longtime Old West competitor Vista PEAK has transitioned to an a capella program, but in its place steps Fossil Ridge, who has competed at the Colorado State Show Choir Festival in the past and participated in other Colorado Springs-area festivals.

4A/3A

• Mitchell “Limited Edition”

• Sidney “Sidney State of Mind”

• Chadron “Cardinal Singers”

• Gering “Harmony”

Gering took first place in this division last year and leads returners Chadron and Mitchell. Sidney returns after a year off; the group was the 2021 champion of this event and notched runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2024.

2A

• Bayard “21st Century Singers”

• Bridgeport “Audacity”

• Kimball “New Dimension”

The three groups here represent a smaller field than the five-group division from last year, losing out-of-area competitors Harvard and Dundy County Stratton. New Dimension placed first and Audacity placed second last year.

Old West operates a unique finals structure that sees the winner of each division earn a guaranteed finals berth, then the next three highest-scoring groups are also awarded finals spots. The judging panel can then choose to add a seventh group to finals, no matter where that group scored.

Due to the format, it is likely that both Colorado groups will make finals, as well as Sidney and Kimball. Who takes the last two (or three) spots is anyone's guess. At the top, it remains to be seen whether Vista Ridge can take a third consecutive title or if any of the challengers can overcome them.