I'm no Ethan Price, but here's my best shot at a wrap-up at a small-school competition (most of this stuff will most likely wind up in my podcast as well):
Was great going to Southwest's first event. I think this is the first time that I've been inside a school during normal times and then gone in during a show choir event, it's such a weird feeling. I know that a number of groups around here had schedule conflicts and couldn't come, but I was still happy to see this one run. There were a couple of snafus, but as Mr. Bergstrom said during awards, it wouldn't be a true first comp without a couple bumps, and the half-hour wait before final awards went faster than I thought it would. I saw the signs for next year and it's already on my calendar! Gonna give quick hits on all the groups:
Preble Center Stage - First of all, huge congrats to y'all. Your ballad has never not given me chills this year. The evolution of the set pieces throughout the show was a nice touch and I think that it did add to the overall effect of the show in a positive manner. Vocal energy tailed off just a tiny bit during the closer in finals but other than that, the energy was outrageous. Hopefully I can make it to Cabaret and catch you guys one last time this year.
Mayville Cardinal Singers - I am so ridiculously happy that y'all have found your footing a bit this year after the season that was 2020. I didn't catch the varsity prelims but based on finals, it was clear that the vocals caption was no fluke. And your choreography is no slouch either this year! I am sad that Alec Twigg is graduating but I have it on good authority that the Twigg dynasty will continue into the future. I had you guys right up there with Preble in finals, no reason to hang your heads about this one.
New London Vision - along with Preble, one of my favorite shows to watch this year. There is something within your set that draws out the uniquely human aspects of the performers on stage - you could see it in the facials that all of this was genuine and from the heart. I almost cried during your ballad, such a powerful moment. "We're going up," as the song goes, and I can't wait to see what Spindler has in store for you guys next year. Congrats on your third placing of the year! Also shoutout to the mom who gave me a glow stick during finals, you're the best.
Preble Rendezvous - y'all have improved by leaps and bounds since I saw you guys at New London both in vocals and in choreo. Clearly there was a lot of hard work that went into this one, and it showed. So cool to see you guys in finals again after I was there the last time in New London five years ago. Sprinkling in Step One in the closer medley was a great way to end the set.
Bay Port - I am absolutely floored with you guys. It was clear from the first notes that y'all were not just going to be another group. Having the bloom around the opening soloist was not something I expected from a first-time competitor. Vocals were really solid for only having 17 performers on stage, and I don't know how y'all put together as big of a band for the first year as you did. Shoutout to the closer soloist, she was performing her tail off the whole time and made me really enjoy the set. Can't wait to see how this group progresses, congrats all around!
Ashwaubenon - great to see y'all back as a mixed group this year after being a womens group last year. Illusion of Life and Speechless were the two highlights of the set for me. Keep working on facials (I know it's tough going between masking and no masking at competitions) and building moments through dynamics/energy. Hopefully I will see you guys next year with a few more performers on stage (I know that's way easier said than done).
Washburn - man, I had y'all pegged as the best out of the JV division. Clearly it was tight. I thought that your guys had a really good collective sound. Some powerful singers on the girls side as well. Really enjoyed the Rocketman medley as the ballad. Super cool chatting with your alums and director as well! I think this was my first time watching a set from you guys, which is crazy considering how long I've been around. Love the spirit in the gym before awards as well.
Mayville Next Edition - My entire childhood flashed before my eyes when the opening notes of the Phineas and Ferb theme song rang out. I hope that you guys enjoyed performing this set as much as I enjoyed watching it!
New London Vocal Motion - It was super cool to see a middle school group that big on this side of the state, I think the only other one with that kind of numbers this year that's east of La Crosse is Red Smith. I saw a jaw drop in front of me in the audience during the ballad solo, which was super cool. Keep it up!
Southwest - y'all have fought really hard to get to where you are now. It was crazy when Emily said that she was part of the first four years of the Spotlight evolution - I still remember when Felix was winning best soloist awards for you guys. Stage presence was so much more than the 17 performers that you guys have. Open class competing is a journey and I hope that it is a fun one for y'all in the years to come. And I think I met half or maybe more of you guys throughout the day yesterday, such a fun group.
If you're not into reading blocks of text, I have released my podcast covering all of the groups at this competition! It's available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Anchor. Hope everyone enjoys!
One of my friends at school is from Bay Port, and it sounds like they already had quite a big and successful choral program. Excited to see what they bring to the show choir world in the next few years!
Gonna give the edge to Mayville solely because they perform the Phineas & Ferb theme song
Seriously though, I’m not the one who started uploading the schedule but I do have a rough list of groups attending and I’m stoked to see a comp where the majority of groups (Preble, Ashwaubenon, Bay Port and New London) are Northeastern Wisconsin groups.
Sorry guys, this was on me; it's not usual form to leave a schedule incomplete but the email sent to me didn't have a division breakdown and I didn't realize this until I had inputted the middle school divisions. I got a reply back today but was busy with another commitment all day. The remaining choirs have been added above.
For sure! It's been great to see Ashwaubenon and Bay Port join the scene in the past couple years, especially since both new directors were products of Green Bay show choirs themselves. Hopefully the schedules shake out a little better next season and there will be even more local choirs here!
Green Bay Southwest Packerland Powerhouse Showcase 2022
