I had a feeling a group would end up placing higher than predicted (Jackson Academy, I'm looking at you!). Super proud of JA for beating Petal, who is one of the best groups not only in the South but in the nation. And of course a huge congrats to Clinton! I hope someone who was here will post some of these shows!
What a special show choir competition this was! You can check out my review of this competition on the latest episode of SourthernShows! LInk ------> Southern Shows Episode 4
I'm still trying to figure out if the reflections of the performers were camera error or show design. Currently working on designing some for my Master's Recital.
Womens
? 1st Oak Mountain The Muses
? 2nd Petal Innovations
? 3rd Pearl River Central Illumination
Middle
? 1st Northeast Jones Gold Horizons
? 2nd Pearl River Central Central Attraction
? 3rd Sumrall Legacy
Large
? 1st Clinton Attaché
? 2nd Oak Mountain Singers
? 3rd Jackson Academy Encore
Overall
? GC Clinton Attaché
? 1RU Oak Mountain Singers
? 2RU Jackson Academy Encore
? 3RU Petal Soundsations
? 4RU Northwest Rankin Ambassadors
? Vocals Clinton
? Visuals Clinton
? Overall Effect Clinton
? Costumes Sumrall
Results:
Single-Gender Division:
First Place: Oak Mountain ‘The Muses’
2nd: Petal ‘Innovations’
3rd: Pearl River Central ‘Illumination’
Middle Mixed (Tier II):
First Place: Northeast Jones ‘Gold Horizons’
2nd: Pearl River Central ‘Central Attraction’
3rd: Sumrall ‘Legacy’
Large Mixed (Tier I):
First Place: Clinton ‘Attaché’
2nd: Oak Mountain ‘Singers’
3rd: Jackson Academy ‘Encore’
Best Costumes: Sumrall ‘Legacy’
Overall Awards:
GC: Clinton ‘Attaché’
1RU: Oak Mountain ‘Singers’
2RU: Jackson Academy ‘Encore’
3RU: Petal ‘Soundsations’
4RU: Northwest Rankin ‘Ambassadors’
Best Vocals: Clinton ‘Attaché’
Best Visuals: Clinton ‘Attaché’
Best Show Design: Clinton ‘Attaché’
I think "bold" is a little bit of an understatement for this one While I can't claim to know the Southern scene in-depth, I would find it hard for any choir to beat Clinton at this point in time. We shall see though! (edited for spelling)
I'll preface this with saying if any group can step up to Attaché, It's Petal or Homewood. But according to this very website, Attaché bested Petal 17 times. I feel like every year we do the "what if said group does it", and maybe one year it will happen. Until it does, you should expect nothing less than a sweep at this competition. To add, the only times we've really seen Attaché threatened in the south is when groups from out of the region come here.
The real question we should ask ourselves is: Do the highs and lows of a show choir program over the years apply {enough} to Attaché, a group that's won the past 20 competitions they competed in?(and before that a streak of 12 straight wins, and even before that yet another streak of 21 wins) OR do some Show Choir Choral Programs reputations maintain themselves. Historically speaking I would argue the latter.
I think that your second paragraph would be much more relevant if we were looking at a Clinton leadership change heading into this season. I concur that historically good programs generally tend to breed competitive choirs year after year. Especially since local media was throwing around the "retirement" term before the Fehrs announced their return in February, now more than ever there will not be an "average" Clinton show. I expect that, especially with a year off of the competition scene to rest and recharge, that the Attaché machine will come out firing on all cylinders in 2022.
I agree with your assessment of which southern groups could do it. However, Attaché has been threatened by a couple of Southern groups. Homewood 2017, Albertville 2008 (beat them in prelims), Petal 2003(?) took Best Choreography from Clinton. The first two were within 10 points, no idea about the third.
I think my prediction is a lot like some of my crypto investments. Do I expect Shiba Inu to make me a millionaire? No, but it’s a fun asset to throw a little money at and see what happens. Maybe I get lucky and look like a genius, or maybe I don’t. Besides, there’s an 8.5 hour difference (probably 9 when you account for Southern time) between Clinton performing at 1:00 and Petal performing at 9:30.
Crazy to think last time Clinton competed was at Petal 2020. Rumors had it Wheaton South gave them a run for their money and some judges thought they "bested" Clinton that day. Rumors are rumors but Wheaton still walked away with Best Show Design, a feat that hasn't been done against Clinton since 2013. That was also the last comp Clinton did not receive GC ... they fell to the hands of the unstoppable Waubonsie dynasty.
Although I am on the outside looking in on the southern show choir scene, I have noticed an uptick in strength for Southern groups. Petal, in my opinion has been seen as "Clinton's little brother" for some time now and they have had some unbelievable years as of late; same deal with Homewood, Oak Mountain, Auburn, etc. However, Clinton will still be Clinton and even with all the moving parts surrounding them lately it's hard to see them not produce a world-class performance this season. Only time will tell if the "Little Brothers of the South" will get their shot and execute on it, but I do believe sooner rather than later.
Very excited to see what these southern groups will be bringing to the table in 2022!
Nick Saban was undefeated against his assistants until this year when Jimbo and Kirby beat him. I know that’s football, but the “little brothers” of Alabama were able to do the unthinkable, so maybe the “little brothers” of Clinton can this year. On a side note, Petal had a really talented class graduate in 2020, and they were their own tier that year. I’m pretty sure that was the class where almost all of the guys were in All State Choir. TBD if that trend continues.
GC- Clinton "Attaché" (Vocals, Choreography)
1st ru- Oak Mountain "Singers" (Show design/overall effect)
2nd ru- Petal "Soundsations"
3rd ru- Jackson Academy "Encore"
4th ru- Northwest Rankin "Ambassadors"
Several groups are going to be fighting for that 4th ru spot (it could easily be Oak Mountain "Muses", Petal "Innovations", PRC "Central Attraction", NEJ "Gold Horizons", Sumrall "Legacy", or even Biloxi "Sound Surge" but my gut is telling me to put NWR there. We'll see! This is one of the most competitive southern show choir competitions I've ever seen.
After looking at the breakdown at Wheaton 2013, Clinton actually outscored Waubonsie Valley in Overall Effect. WV won because the beat Clinton in Vocals by 12 points. That was the only time the WV lost a caption at Wheaton's contest between 2013 - 2017, facing Burbank, John Burroughs, and Carmel after that year. Don't have detailed scoring of the years after 2013, but I'd imagine that Clinton was the only group to beat them in Overall Effect in that set of contests.
West Jones Invitational 2022
While I can't claim to know the Southern scene in-depth, I would find it hard for any choir to beat Clinton at this point in time. We shall see though! (edited for spelling)