Predictions:
GC: Bemidji (BB/BC)
1RU: Hastings (BV)
2RU: Waconia (BC/BB)
3RU: Totino (but I have no idea bc with a new director their show could be different from the past?? I’m excited to see how they are this year!)
4RU: Logan
5RU: Benton
Ngl, Waconia has grown leaps and bounds since their preview show.I am assuming the same for other groups, but I feel like they could take GC...???? especially after last weekend! I honestly have no clue how this will play out but I’ll be watching the livestream! Best of luck to my waconia bbs
Follow along on our Instagram all weekend to see what’s happening at the competition! @bkgold20 and @kennedychoirs will be updated consistently with content.
There is a change to the schedule. Our two Hastings prep groups will flip performance times:
Hastings Upstage Revolution: 8:30 am
Hastings Dynamic Edition 10:20 am
While the existing order will not change, we will be splitting up the prep group and awarding in both mixed prep and single gender categories.
Single Gender Prep:
Hastings Dynamic Edition
Logan Classy Ladies
Bemidji La Voce Ballo
Totino Grace Encore Singers
Jefferson Jive
Mixed Prep:
Hastings Upstage Revolution
Benton Jubilation, Inc.
Waconia The Current
We are looking forward to hosting all these fabulous choirs and their fans!
I know my username implies bias, so let me explain. The results of Onalaska this year were extremely close. Riverside lost best band by half a point and their final placement overall was down to one judge as the rest were evenly split. I have seen their show and their band has improved to gain back that half a point and win best band. The judges at Onalaska have favored Bemidji for the last 3 years, so an entirely new judging panel could benefit them. Best vocals and best choreo have usually gone to Hastings and Bemidji respectively, and I don’t think that will change despite Riverside’s new choreographer. Waconia has improved over the past few years and I believe they will place higher than Totino, and Totino’s new director has nothing to do with this. I am unfamiliar with Benton and Logan but based on their results from last year I put them as my 4RU and 5RU. Some of these groups still have one more competition before this one, so if any of their placements affect my predictions, I will correct them. This is where I rank them all as of now. Best of luck to all the performing groups!
Edit: After seeing results from a few competitions this past weekend and seeing the shows for my top 3 groups, I can say that I stand by my earlier predictions even as the general consensus seems to be that Bemidji will win first. Contrary to comments I’ve seen on this site, I believe Bemidji’s show this year is a lot weaker in comparison to their last 2 years. However, best band seems like a toss up between Hastings and Bemidji. I could see it going to either and the latter being less than a point away from actually winning best band. The results will definitely be close, but I’m sticking to my earlier predictions. No matter what happens, good luck to all the performing groups!