Three Compelling Divisions Will Contend for a GC at Herbert Hoover
- 29 minutes ago
- 2 min read
By Tonya Chase, West Virginia contributor
As the snow begins to melt in Elkview, nine choirs from Ohio and West Virginia are preparing for the Herbert Hoover River Classic hosted by High Impact. With a unique finals structure awarding slots to the top two choirs from each division, the best small choirs will have a guaranteed opportunity to perform a second time.
The most competitive division will be large mixed, as Huntington Illusions pulls a double competition day, performing at Herbert Hoover before making the trip to Robert C. Byrd in Clarksburg for the one-and-done West Virginia State Show Choir Festival. Should they make finals, they will be packing up for a different kind of road trip after their late afternoon performance. Fellow competitors Teays Valley Prominent Rendition, from the Columbus area, and Martinsburg Good Times will strive to render Illusions' return unnecessary, both eager to take one of those two large division finals slots.
In small division, fellow Kanawha County choirs Nitro Showcats and Capital Voices in Perfection will be fighting off the Doddridge County Bel Canto Bulldogs. Showcats’ pizza parlor-inspired show has been successful this season, earning them finals positions at multiple competitions. With this finals structure, both Voices In Perfection and Bel Canto Bulldogs have the opportunity to earn their best finish yet, fighting for one of those coveted finals performances.
Cabell Rhythm in Red continues to improve as they face fellow womens-only groups Martinsburg GLITZ and Sissonville Touch of Class. Unlike other womens groups, these are not prep choirs but instead receive all of the resources mixed choirs do in regards to costumes, choreography, and arrangements. This will be an entertaining division with some of the best performances of the day.
Predictions
Predictions represent the opinion of this contributor and not of HomeRoom Show Choir.
Should Cabell Midland Rhythm In Red maintain solid vocals and clean choreography, they will be the second West Virginia womens choir to receive an overall grand championship this season. Their Mario-inspired performance will be easy to remember, as it showcases individual talent without upstaging the choir as a whole. This would be Rhythm In Red’s first grand championship since making the switch away from being a mixed choir.
Highest Ceiling
Capital VIPs have experienced a limited competition season as snow and ice wreaked havoc on the Kanawha Valley. Despite only a few bass vocalists, the men of this ensemble still manage to produce enough sound to balance the treble, making them a contender for finals. Practically a home competition, this venue puts judges closer to the stage, benefiting small choirs who struggle to achieve volume compared to their larger counterparts. This competition could be VIPs best finish yet, ending 2026 on a high note.
Dark Horse
Teays Valley Prominent Rendition has the potential to win their first overall grand championship of the decade. Their choreography will be unique to the area, allowing them to stand out among regional choirs such as Nitro and Cabell Midland. In past competitions, they have finished just behind Rhythm in Red, however Prominent Rendition will receive the benefit of a late performance time, distancing themselves from the womens division performances earlier in the day.