By William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
Millard West, Mitchell, and Brownsburg all took key wins as their seasons wind down, while Fairfield claimed a decisive season-ending victory.
Lewis Central Clash of the Titans
Final Results
GC: Millard West “West in the Groove” (BC/BB)
1RU: Gretna “Revolution” (BV)
2RU: Papillion-La Vista South “Titan Express"
3RU: Lincoln East "Express"
4RU: Sioux Falls Jefferson "Legacy"
5RU: Millard South "South on Stage"
In a highly-anticipated showdown between arguably the top two show choirs in Nebraska this year, WIG prevailed by an incredibly narrow margin. Their record this year now includes three wins and a sole fourth-place finish, with only a matchup with Ankeny Centennial standing between them and the end of the season. Gretna did not drop a vocal caption all season, a big deal when competing in a circuit of this caliber. Papio South closed the season with a nice podium placement. Titanium’s season has arguably been one of the hardest in the state, with the group facing incredibly staunch competition at four of its five competitions this season. In Sioux Falls Jefferson’s only matchup with many Nebraska choirs this season, they did well, placing only marginally behind where they have in South Dakota this season. South on Stage was also sixth at Clash of the Titans last year; this year, they beat the entire womens division to claim that spot.
Marysville Showcase
Final Results
GC: Fairfield “Choraliers” (BV/BC)
1RU: Waubonsie Valley “Sound Check”
2RU: Chesterton “Sandpipers” (BB)
3RU: Olentangy “Keynotes”
4RU: Beavercreek “Friends”
Single-Gender Finals
1st: Fairfield “Pure Elegance” (BV/BB)
2nd: Chesterton “Drifters” (BC)
3rd: Olentangy “She-Notes”
This has been the season that longtime show choir observers had been hoping Fairfield could put together. Choraliers snagged their third win of the season on Saturday, pairing that with two second-place finishes to compile the best season (on paper) for the group since 2019. The icing on the cake was the distance between them and the in-state competitors; Olentangy was fourth and Beavercreek fifth. Waubonsie Valley had not competed since February 15, but made a good but of noise ahead of a very tough Wheaton Warrenville South Choral Classic this upcoming weekend. Chesterton is in the home stretch of a widely varied season for the group; they will compete in their home state for the first time in five competitions this upcoming weekend. In an ever-changing Ohio single-gender scene, Pure Elegance made a good case to be at the top of the pile, winning over a womens group from the traditionally strong state of Indiana.
Sioux City East Sing All About It
Final Results
GC: Mitchell “Friend de Coup” (BV/BC/BB)
1RU: Bishop Heelan “Harmonia Mundi”
2RU: Hastings “Riverside Company”
3RU: Elkhorn South “Blackout”
4RU: Aberdeen Central “Eagle Express”
5RU: Elkhorn South “Shockwave”
Staying a bit closer to home than normal this year has paid big dividends for Mitchell, who has now won in Sioux City two weeks in a row. Friend de Coup, by all appearances, is the same juggernaut that is has been forever, and this sweep is a key momentum builder before competing in the Wheaton Warrenville South Choral Classic this weekend. Bishope Heelan had a signature performance, defending its home city from Hastings. This is arguably the biggest win for Harmonia Mundi since they toppled the Nick McGraw-led Keokuk at Dallas Center-Grimes in 2014, or since an incredible 2010 season in which they defeated Papillion-La Vista South, a prime Pella, and a Shanna Luckett-led Pascagoula Impact. Hastings closes their season where it began – hours from home and in the middle of finals. Elkhorn South put multiple groups in finals for the second consecutive week, although this time Shockwave outplaced Power Surge and not the other way around. Aberdeen Central finishes their season winless, although the caliber of competition they encountered this season is much higher than that of last season.
Wildcard: Avon Vocal Invitational
Final Results
GC: Brownsburg “Spotlight Singers & Company” (BV/BC)
1RU: Plainfield “Belles et Beaux”
2RU: Castle "Knight Sensations"
3RU: Jenks "Trojanaires"
Single-Gender Finals
1st: Brownsburg "Starlight Voices" (BV/BC)
2nd: Plainfield "Femmes Fatales"
3rd: Castle "Knightingales"
4th: Jenks "AireMen"
Two separate divisions produced entirely the same results, with Brownsburg taking both captions ahead of Plainfield, Castle, and Jenks. The win comes at a great time for Spotlight Singers & Company, who missed finals at its first competition of the season and was third at Glenwood last week. This is the third straight win for Brownsburg at AVI and seventh in the last nine years. Plainfield continues its bridesmaid run, as B&B has been second ever since a win at Southmont on Feb. 1. Knight Sensations are having a better season on paper than they were last year and look to be in decent shape for the ISSMA State Finals, should they choose to participate. Jenks was a bit of an unknown quality, making the trip all the way from Oklahoma, but Trojanaires’ Alice in Wonderland-themed show proved that the southern plains produces some very legitimate show choir. In the single-gender finals, the main story was Starlight Voices finally matching up against some Indianapolis-area competition. They acquitted themselves as well as they could, winning with two captions. Of particular note was Jenks AireMen, a first-year group attempting to be taken seriously in a circuit where mens groups are usually trotted out as once-a-year novelty acts. AireMen beat sister group as well as Lawrence North Bella Bravada to make the finals.
With the season winding down for pretty much everybody besides the West Coasters, the battles are just that much more intense. Check back late in the week for a primer on all the best battles!
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