Large Mixed and Small Mixed Both Bring Promise to New England's 2026 Show Choir Season

By Michael James Breen, New England contributor

Stock photo: Derrick Knight / Knight Images

The 2025 season was one of the most successful show choir seasons up in New England in a while. The post-pandemic years have been nothing but building blocks to regain the level of excellence the groups achieved in the late 2010s. With the likes of Daniel Hand, Waltham and South Windsor leading the charge, other programs have followed suit to meet them where they are in competition.

Several of New England's large groups had signature moments throughout the season, boosting the tide of the region as a whole. VIBE made finals at Show Choir Nationals, spotlighting the Northeast on a national scale. Music Unlimited made finals at Franklin Central in Indiana, showing that they could play among some of the Midwest's best groups. Lowell turned back Manteno at Waltham, ending the season with a victory for one of New England's own.

The small mixed division also saw a lot of growth. Scranton First Edition continues to make the hike over from Pennsylvania, and the group won small mixed in all three of the New England events it attended last season. Hillsborough Legacy from New Jersey burst on to the scene with a runner-up finish in small mixed at Bishop Hendricken and should factor into the small mixed conversation at whatever events they attend this season. Small mixed also welcomed both Shepherd Hill and Somerset Berkley into the fold in 2025 as both schools retool their show choir efforts.

The 2026 season will offer plenty more opportunities for groups in all divisions to strut their stuff. Six competitions in Massachusetts and one in Rhode Island comprise the competition schedule for New England this season, starting with Tantasqua on Jan. 31 and ending with Waltham on Mar. 28. The Midwest will get a dose of New England again this year, as Daniel Hand will tango with Marysville, Fairfield and others at Loveland on Feb. 14.

What’s Changed?

·       Evan Caverly has left Lowell and taken on the role of directing Andover From Start to Finish and Back to Bass-ics.

·       Emma Luxemberg, a South Windsor staff member, is now the choreographer for Natick West Street Singers.

·       Sam Mulligan and Nikki Mele joined the choreography team alongside April James at Daniel Hand.

·       JR Marlow and Eric Van Cleave are now arranging for Bishop Hendricken.

Who's on the rise?

·       Bishop Hendricken Paramount, Rhode Island's only competitive show choir, was consistently a top-three choir within the small mixed division in 2025. In an ever-shifting division, that consistency will be their friend as they go forward into 2026.

·       Andover Nothin’ But Treble is looking to be the top dog in New England's single-gender scene this season. They notched two division wins in 2025 but ended last season outside of the placements at Bishop Hendricken, leaving something on the table.

Who has something to prove?

·       Leominster Ignition is a small group that is hungry for progress within the small mixed division. Ignition only started competing after the pandemic and is a young program that has the potential to make waves in the future.

·       Shepherd Hill Fantasy is performing as a small mixed group again for the second year in a row as they rebuild a program with such a legacy of excellence. Fantasy will need to rally the troops and perform well this year if they want to be looking towards rejoining large mixed in the future.

·       After a couple of upset placements this past year, South Windsor Choral Spectrum is looking to pick up where they left off at the end of a highlight-filled 2024 season.

What competitions look good this season?

o   Jan. 31: Tantasqua is kicking off the New England season for the first time ever. With 22 groups participating, it is looking to be a great way to initiate what is to come this year. Top contenders in each division will get an early look at how their shows stack up against one another.

o   Mar. 7: Leominster is slated to be the biggest competition of the season, with almost 30 groups going. Leominster, as a second-year competition, will be one to watch to get a glimpse of all the good things New England has to offer.

o   Mar. 21: In New England, Andover’s competition is a fan favorite. With state-of-the-art performing and warmup spaces, it is the reason why so many out-of-state groups like to come and compete there. Troy Buchanan Express will be in attendance from Missouri.

o   Mar. 28: Waltham is hosting their competition at their newly-built high school for the second time. With a gorgeous proscenium theater and an amazing atmosphere, the hosts make you feel like you are at home the whole day.

Editor-in-Chief William Soquet also contributed to this article.