It’s Been HOW Long?? - Koste Classic Recap and Powhatan Preview
- Mar 21
- 6 min read
By Cole McConnell, Virginia Contributor
Manchester Koste Classic Recap
The Manchester Koste Classic, one of Virginia’s most prestigious competitions was held this past weekend and numerous choirs came out with plenty to be proud of. While some choirs capped off perfect seasons, others brought home their first win in nearly a decade.
Although there were many schools who achieved amazing results alongside their star-studded shows, one school took the reins over their fellow competitors. Midlothian High School, led by director Atticus Brandon W. Finn, took home wins in the large treble, large mixed, and bass divisions. City Lights, their single gender choir took home their first top spot placement since 2017 when they won a competition at the now defunct Lakeside Georgia Vocal Invitational. In their debut performance, MidBROthian, and best male performer Ashton Nostheide, took home best visuals in the bass division, which was enough to give them the edge over Atlee Debonair. On day two of the Koste Classic, Just For Show was looking for revenge against Matoaca High Impact. Earlier in the season, Midlothian's best vocals and choreography was not enough for the top spot as Matoaca took the win at Cloevr Hill. As awards began at Manchester, JFS heard their name announced multiple times for vocals, choreography, band, and best of all, the grand championship. Similar to their treble group, this was Midlothian's mixed choir’s first overall win since 2017 at the Kecoughtan Hampton Roads Show Choir Invitational, a competition which is also no longer active in the Virginia scene.
Despite dominance from Midlothian over the course of the weekend, other groups deserve a shoutout for the outstanding performances. Unsurprisingly, the seemingly unbeatable Douglas Freeman Harmony in Motion swept the medium treble division. Douglas Freeman also took home the grand championship for Friday while concluding their season undefeated in their division. In addition to being unconquerable by fellow in-state choirs, they dropped just one caption all season when they lost best choreography to Hurricane Heat Wave. Since this choir is rather young, expect them to continue commanding the Virginia treble scene for next season and many years to come.
The first day also revealed a new top dog in the small treble division. After being the top-scoring choir at their first two competitions and seeking an undefeated season, Powhatan Radiance was dethroned by Massaponax Decibelles, who took their second straight victory with a sweep of all major captions.
Two other mixed divisions, which represented 15 different choirs were also battling it out for ultimate bragging rights at Manchester. Clover Hill New Dimensions put the seal on their 2026 season winning the medium mixed division and shutting out all other choirs from even taking a lone caption. New Dimensions went without blemish in their two home state performances this season and added on a second and third overall in finals at respective out-of-state competitions. Poquoson Evolution, one of the only non-Richmond Metro choirs that competes, got the best of eight other competitors in route to their first win this season. With one competition left for this squad, they will have high expectations entering this weekend.
Powhatan Diamond Classic Preview
Speaking of this weekend, the Powhatan Diamond Classic will be the farewell to the 2026 Virginia show choir circuit for performers, directors, and fans alike. While the last competition is often a somber moment, there are many accomplishments to celebrate and awards to be won at the final competition. The last competition is arguably the most important as choirs measure their growth from the beginning to end of their season and set the tone as they begin 2027 preparations.
As nearly all the Virginia competitions go, Friday has an all-day treble showdown and should produce some entertaining battles. The large division will see Midlothian City Lights, who have the momentum coming in, face off against Manchester Touch of Swing and Cosby Rhapsody, who will be seeking their third straight win and yet another undefeated in-state circuit. Heading down one size, the medium group will see four choirs sing and dance their hearts out one last time. Thomas Dale Knightingales, who placed second in the large division last weekend, will oppose Atlee Elegance and James River Anything Goes who have been jockeying with one another all season, flip-flopping placements both times they met. Kecoughtan Touch of Jade rounds out the field.
In the small treble division, Massaponax Decibelles took home the win from this bunch last week over, but many of these groups have only competed two or less times this season, making it hard to project who will earn the biggest trophy.
The mixed competition on Saturday is in all likelihood the closest thing fans will get to a “state” competition for Virginia. All five of the choirs that have represented the state for lovers at some point in the 2026 circuit will take the stage to crown the ultimate champion. Matoaca High Impact and star soloist Jordan Saunders have one title this season, as well as Midlothian Just For Show, who won their grand championship last weekend. Legendary director Heather Andre and Cosby Spotlight have two wins bringing the total for this division to six. While these are and have consistently been the big three in the Old Dominion this season, Manchester Capital Swing has been scrappy and took a caption off Spotlight earlier this season. Kecoughtan Harbor Lights will also look to turn their season around after struggling to place since moving up from the medium division.
All three choirs from the medium division will be seeking their first victory of the 2026 season. After a strong 2025, Thomas Dale Knight Scene hasn’t produced quite the quality of results they did last season but are rebounding off their best placement of the season when they placed second last weekend at the aforementioned Koste Classic. Similarly, Atlee Illusion has reeled in two third places this season and will try to nab their best placement of the season before it’s too late. The final choir represented in this group is West Virginia’s Musselman Kaleidoscope who are, oddly enough, only in the middle of their traveling as they come in with two performances under their belt and two more to go after the Diamond Classic. This is also Kaleidoscope’s first time competing in a month, so it will be interesting to see how their show has improved.
Reigning champion Poquoson Evolution spear heads an unproven and young small mixed division that has five choirs. Evolution, who swept eight choirs last week, will have a slightly easier challenge this week as they take on James River Current Edition, Amherst Amherechos, Penn Wood Prime Time, and Henrico Company 302. Four of these choirs have either returned to competition, undergone leadership changes, or competed for the first time ever in the last three seasons. Current Edition, who won at their kick-off performance at Thomas Dale, has failed to produce a podium finish in two competitions since then and will be seeking a bounce back performance. After two wins last season, the Amherechos have failed to replicate that success with just third and non–placing performances this season and look to find some of that 2025 strength in their last competition. Company 302, who placed fourth at the previous Diamond Classic will look to earn the school’s first ever mixed choir podium finish. From Pennsylvania, Prime Time will be competing for the first time ever. This choir, which has a time themed show with 15 singer/dancers, is under the direction of Patrick Hein and Judy Jordan, with choreography from Paige McConlogue. These names may seem familiar to show choir connoisseurs as they also lead Scranton High School, the other competing Pennsylvania show choir.
While there will be many tears shed sharing the tremendous memories that happened during the 2026 season, expect the competition to be as fierce and ferocious as ever.
Predictions:
Large Mixed
GC: Cosby “Spotlight” (BV/BC)
1RU: Midlothian “Just For Show”
2RU: Matoaca “High Impact”
Medium Mixed
GC: Thomas Dale “Knight Scene” (BV/BC)
1RU: Atlee “Illusion”
2RU: Musselman (WV) “Kaleidoscope”
Small Mixed
GC: Poquoson “Evolution” (BV/BC)
1RU: James River “Current Edition”
2RU: Amherst “Amherechos”
Large Treble
GC: Cosby Rhapsody (BV/BC)
1RU: Manchester “Touch of Swing”
2RU: Midlothian “City Lights”
Medium Treble
GC: Thomas Dale Knightingales (BV/BC)
1RU: James River Current Edition
2RU: Atlee Elegance
Single Clef
GC: Massaponax “Decibelles” (BV/BC)
1RU: Manchester “Vocal Swing:
2RU: Midlothian “MidBROthian”
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