Red Hot, Emerald Elegance Retain Their Titles at West Virginia States

By Tonya Chase, West Virginia contributor

Hurricane Red Hot performs its 2026 show. PHOTO: Ryan Sigmon Photography

Tucked in the hills of West Virginia, Robert C. Byrd High School hosted the West Virginia State Show Choir Festival. Thirteen choirs that spanned from the eastern panhandle to the Ohio River traveled to the central part of the state in hopes of a state championship.

Hurricane Red Hot continued their dominance within the state, finishing their season as Grand Champion of the championship division. Their haunted mansion-themed show separated itself with complex choreography by Tori Brindis, Peyton Bellman, and Randy Sage. Red Hot received several caption awards, including Best Vocals, Best Choreography, Best Instrumental Ensemble, and Best Show Design. This is Hurricane’s eleventh consecutive state championship and tenth under director Joseph Kincaid. Despite being a rebuilding year for the state champions, Red Hot finishes 2026 with three grand championships, four division wins, and multiple captions.

Breaking up the three powerhouse Putnam County choirs in attendance, Robert C. Byrd Vocal Intensity finished second with Best Costumes. The bass section was the star of their show, featuring balanced vocals and talented soloists. As one of only three large ensembles in West Virginia, Vocal Intensity has great potential to be competitive for years to come. Finishing off the top five in championship division, Winfield General Admission placed third with their Saturday Morning Television show, Poca Visual Volume’s going coastal show had a fun and entertaining performance to finish fourth, and Huntington Illusions rounded out the top five after competing in the preliminary round at Herbert Hoover River Classic earlier in the day.

In the womens division, Winfield Emerald Elegance retained their title of Grand Champions with a second undefeated season. Their show, inspired by the poem “The Giving Tree,” took

Best Vocals, Best Choreography and Best Show Design. This is Brooke Smolder’s most unique creation, with staging and choreography that highlights the strengths of the choir. Hurricane Heat Wave took second place with a performance the young choir can be proud of. As Heat Wave gains experience and Emerald Elegance stretches the artistic side of show choir, this matchup will continue to be the most competitive within the state for years to come.

Thermo-Dynamics, Hurricane’s show band, continues to be dominant, winning Best Instrumental Ensemble in both the championship and womens divisions. Under the direction of Evelyn Bush and with arrangements by JR Marrow and Brock Keiper, this ensemble continues to be the standard in West Virginia with only one lost caption in three

years.

The festival division, designed for small and novice choirs, crowned a new champion when Musselman Kaleidoscope placed first with Best Vocals and Best Choreography. Despite being the smallest group on stage, Spring Mills Flight finished second with a performance that was consistent throughout. In third, Grafton Entertainers came away with Best Instrumental Ensemble.

In the middle school division, Saint Joseph Genesis traveled back to Martinsburg with their first state championship, winning captions in Best Choreography and Best Instrumental Ensemble. They were followed by South Spirit at Martinsburg South, whose Little Red Riding Hood performance earned them Best Vocals and Best Show Design. Rounding out the middle schools were first-year choir Liberty Lyrics in third, and outside of the announced placements, Spring Mills Flight (another state debut) and Lincoln Soundwaves.

Looking down the road, the 2027 West Virginia State Show Choir Festival will once again be held at Robert C. Byrd High School under the chairmanship of Mady McNemar-Rhodes.