Oklahoma Show Choir Wraps Up a Whirlwind February
- 5 hours ago
- 7 min read
By Elli Peck, Oklahoma contributor
February was a busy month for Oklahoma show choir groups. With the official start of the in-state season along with many travelers (with 2,000+ miles combined throughout the out-of-state competitions), the Sooner State stayed involved throughout the month, with at least two schools competing each week and a total of 24 competing choirs.
Feb 7th:
Joplin “In the Spotlight” (MO):
Finals:
GC: Broken Arrow “Tiger Rhythm” (BV/BC/BB/Best Show Design)
1RU: Webb City “Singers”
2RU: Webb City “Bella Voce”
3RU: Broken Arrow “Tiger Mystique”
4RU: Arkansas City (KS) “Unleashed”
5RU: Mt. Vernon “Vocal Motion “
Broken Arrow left an impression in Joplin, securing their fourth consecutive “In the Spotlight” sweep. Taking home 7 group captions, Tiger Rhythm made the best of their nearly 3-hour long trip. Evangelene King took home her 2nd best soloist award of the season marking her fifth overall. Broken Arrow’s treble group, Tiger Mystique, finished fourth overall for the third year in a row taking down a handful of Missouri and Kansas mixed groups and taking 2nd in their division, just behind Southeast Missouri juggernaut Bella Voce. Broken Arrow looks to return to the “Spotlight” next season, making it their 5th consecutive year.
Fort Worth Southwest “Cowtown Classic” (TX):
Mixed Division:
GC: Keller Central “Voices of Central”
1RU: Keller “Blue Lights”
2RU: Jenks “Trojanaires” (BB)
3RU: Fossil Ridge "Pantheon"
4RU: Timber Creek "Aerodynamix"
5RU: L.D. Bell "The Bell System"
Prep:
1st: Jenks “Airemen”
2nd: Keller Central “Voltage”
3rd: Keller “Lumina”
4th: Paschal "Ultraviolet"
Jenks went down south to Texas and left with some hardware. The Trojanaires took 3rd overall ahead of some top tier Texan groups in Fossil Ridge, Timber Creek, and L.D. Bell, taking best band in the process. This marks the fourth podium finish for the group in Texas. Jenks Airemen took another division win in just their second season, besting prominent treble groups in Keller Central and Keller. This win puts them in the conversation as one of the best Bass groups in the region. Jack Reilly took home the best soloist award in the prep division. Treble group Trojan Spirit just missed the podium in the Prep division, but their Muses show left an impact on the Texas crowd.
Feb 11th
Duncan “Show Choir Festival” (OK):
6A Division:
1st: Edmond Memorial “Act II” (BV/Sweepstakes)
2nd: Edmond Santa Fe “Serenade” (Best Single-Clef/ Most Entertaining)
3rd: Edmond Santa Fe “Finale”
5A Division:
1st: MacArthur “Unmuteables”
2nd: Durant “Sound Etc.”
3rd: Duncan “Reflections”
4A Division:
1st: Bethany “New Mix”
2nd: Bethany “Treblemakers”
3A Division:
1st: Alva “Gold Rush!” (BC)
2nd: Lexington “Southern Accents”
3rd: Lexington “Pitch Slapped”
Duncan kicked off in state competitions in Oklahoma this season with a full roster of Oklahoma groups competing. Edmond schools showed off, with Edmond Memorial taking home sweepstakes and best overall vocals. Santa Fe’s Serenade made a splash last year, making finals at Jenks. In Duncan, they beat their own mixed choir to secure second place with a “Most Entertaining” caption. MacArthur made waves as they took down up-and-coming Durant for first in the 5A division. In the 4A division, Bethany aptly named mixed group “New Mix” finished at the top ahead of their treble choir. The 3A division saw a fight between two Oklahoma blue bloods in Lexington and Alva. Gold Rush! finished with best overall choreo and took home the divisional win.
Feb 14th:
Jenks “Trochella” (OK):
Finals:
GC: Broken Arrow “Tiger Rhythm” (BV/BC/BB/ Best Costumes)
1RU: Joplin (MO) “Sound Dimension”
2RU: Broken Arrow “Tiger Mystique”
3RU: Joplin (MO) “Touch of Class”
4RU: Enid “Rhythm in Blue”
5RU: McDonald County (MO) “Rhapsody n' Rhythm”
Prep:
1st: Durant “Sound Etc.”
2nd: Bixby “Spartan Genesis”
3rd: Mustang “Backstage Broncos”
Jenks Trochella, a two-day show choir extravaganza, drew groups from across Oklahoma and Missouri. Broken Arrow and Joplin dominated the competition, making up the top 4 placements. Tiger Rhythm remained undefeated at Trochella, taking all major captions, while Sound Dimension went two for two with second place finishes in Oklahoma. Rhythm’s very own “Dorian Gray” took home her third best soloist of the year in a stacked lineup of outstanding vocalists. Tiger Mystique made finals for the second time this season and fourth consecutive time at Trochella, edging out a strong Touch of Class. Enid and McDonald County really shook things up, with Enid making their first finals appearance in program history, and storied program McDonald County rounded out finals in their out-of-state debut. Durant bounced back just four days after falling short at Duncan with a win in the Prep division. Bixby launched their inaugural season with a second-place finish in their competition debut. Mustang and their Great Gatsby show rounded out the Prep podium. Guymon, despite staying in state, are no strangers to travelling far for a competition. The panhandle school traveled 11 hours to Jenks and another 11 to Duncan in the same week. Tiger Tonality made a mark on this competition, spreading Valentine's Day love to the other competitors.
Feb 21st:
L.D. Bell “HEB Invitational” (TX):
Finals:
GC: Broken Arrow “Tiger Rhythm” (BV/BC/BB)
1RU: Keller “Blue Lights”
2RU: Keller Central “Voices of Central”
3RU: Fossil Ridge Pantheon”
4RU: Timber Creek “Aerodynamix”
Treble Division:
1st: Broken Arrow “Tiger Mystique”
Oklahoma groups have taken the title at L.D. Bell in the competition’s first two years, with Tiger Rhythm taking home the win this year and Jenks taking the win at the inaugural event. While the competition in Texas gets tougher each year, Rhythm’s win marks five undefeated season in Texas, with their seventh Grand Championship in the Lonestar State. Mystique took home another division win, their second in Texas.
Rock Bridge “Southside Showdown” (MO):
Finals:
GC: Hannibal (MO) “River City Revue”
1RU: Jenks “Trojanaires” (BC)
2RU: Joplin (MO) “Sound Dimension”
3RU: Joplin (MO) “Touch of Class”
4RU: Hickman (MO) “Harmonix”
Treble Division:
1st: Joplin “Touch of Class”
2nd: Jenks “Trojan Spirit”
Bass Division:
1st: Jenks “Airemen”
2nd: Joplin “Men of Note”
The Trojans made another long trek this time to Missouri and finished First Runner Up with Best Choreography and captions recognizing their opener and closer of their high energy show, “The Storm”. Jenks took the choreo caption, their third in the Dominic Matas era, which is a huge accomplishment for the Trojanaires and the Cali based choreographer. Airemen secured yet another divisional win, this time over new bass group, Men of Note. Trojan Spirit took a notable 2nd place, their highest placement since last year at L.D. Bell, where they took home the division win. Leyton Garcia of the Trojanaires took home best soloist, his third after grabbing two last year for Airemen.
Feb 28th:
Carthage “Soundfest” (MO):
Finals:
GC: Warrensburg “Soundwave”
1RU: Mt. Vernon “Vocal Motion”
2RU: Nevada “Soundsational Singers”
3RU: Bixby “Spartan Genesis”
4RU: McDonald County “Rhapsody n' Rhythm “
5RU: Warrensburg “Prism”
The young Bixby group, with show design by Tulsa local Hannah Johnson, took their Stevie Nicks jukebox show to their first out-of-state competition. They made waves by making finals and placing fourth overall. Spartan Genesis made history for Oklahoma choirs, becoming the first mixed group to make finals in their inaugural season. This choir is certainly one to keep an eye on in upcoming seasons. Macie Dunham took her first ever best soloist award, showcasing her fantastic storytelling and vocals.
Heart of America Nashville (TN)
Mixed Finals:
GC: Tupelo (MS) “Synergy”
1RU: Hastings (MN) “Riverside Company”
2RU: Jenks “Trojanaires” (Best show design)
Treble Finals:
GC: Boulder Creek (AZ) “Hart and Soul”
1RU: Jenks “Trojan Spirit” (BC/Best Crew)
Bass Division:
GC: Jenks “Airemen” (BV/BC)
Jenks closed out their season on the national stage at HOA Nashville with their third straight podium finish. Facing tough competition from across the nation, the Trojanaires took Best Show Design with their rain-soaked show. Trojan Spirit made history, landing their first finals appearance in group history. The Muse-themed show, choreographed by Oklahoma’s own Dalton Myatt, took 1st Runner Up with Best Choreography. The bass powerhouse Airemen grabbed their third straight division win while also snatching Best Choreo and Best Vocals in their division. Jack Reilly took another best soloist award, becoming the 6th Oklahoman to win best soloist at an HOA event.
Hollister “Show Choir Invitational” (MO):
Finals:
GC: Lexington “Southern Accents” (BV/ Best Opener)
1RU: Cole Camp “Encore”
2RU: Green Ridge “Harmony”
3RU: Lexington “Testostertones” (BC)
Lexington bounced back emphatically after missing the podium at Jenks and Duncan, grabbing their 3rd consecutive win at Hollister. With this competition in just its third season, Lexington remains the only grand championship group in its brief history. With this win, Lexington breaks into the 3+ time winner club for Oklahoma, joining powerhouses Broken Arrow (18 wins) and Jenks (7 wins). The Testostertones closed out a strong season with their third straight Hollister finals appearance, taking Best Choreo and second overall in prelims. The Southern Accents also took the Best Opener caption for their time-travelling Back to the Future show. Boston Day snatched best soloist for the Testostertones, finishing the show with a show stopping split.
Looking Forward:
March 7th:
Broken Arrow will be attending the Southlake Carroll Showdown in Texas to close out their competition season. With a streak on the line, Tiger Rhythm and Tiger Mystique will be giving everything they got, but premier Texas groups, Keller Blue Lights and Keller Central Voices of Central will be fierce competition.
March 11th:
Enid will host their annual competition on Wednesday with many familiar Oklahoma choirs competing, as well as new choirs Woodward “Boomer Expressions” and Will Rogers Middle School “Spark!”
March 14th:
MacArthur will head to Orlando for FAME, making the second consecutive appearance by an Oklahoma choir after Lexington competed last year. They will face off against a plethora of impressive choirs from across the nation.
March 25th:
The Oklahoma show choir competition season concludes at Edmond Santa Fe this year, marking a fantastic season of growth and excellence. Though the full roster of groups attending is not yet known, it is safe to say it will be an exciting event to cap off the year.