Truth be told, most of us (myself included) are probably not going to predict this right with the caliber of groups and unique strengths and weaknesses that each groups has. 1-6 could be in any order with any combo of captions.
I think the treble division is going to be just as exciting as the mixed division here - almost all of these groups are around the same level, so it’s a complete toss up to me for placements 1st through 5th ish.
End of regular season (well, close to it) predictions:
GC - Homewood (BV)
1RU - Linn Marr (BC)
2RU - Findlay
3RU - Hastings
4RU - North Central
5RU - Mt. Zion
Still can't find the SCN scoresheet, so I just used a mix of scoresheets and used the rankings for placements and captions. Using raw score flips Hastings and Findlay for placement, and flips BV to Hastings.
I could probably dig up the SCN scoresheet for you somewhere. MOShow is CLOSELY based on the SCN scoresheet. I believe we eliminated 1 category and maybe changed the wording of a category or two. I should have one of our old SCN scoresheets laying around somewhere. (Yes, I am a show choir score hoarder.) I'm in the process of moving, so PM me if I haven't sent it within a few days.
GC - Linn Marr (BV) (BC)
1RU - Homewood
2RU - Hastings
3RU - North Central
4RU - Mt. Zion
5RU - Findlay
Literally none of the groups stayed in the same place. Razor-thin margin (as expected), so this will come down to how each group performs in Nashville.
I’m just going off the most recent performance I’ve seen for each group, which has its own benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, it’s really time-consuming, every group is judged on a different venue and date, and not every group even has a performance to go off (North Central has nothing this year and Hastings will be seen in like an hour). On the other, I’m relying on each group’s unique strengths and weaknesses rather than reacting to who they beat and how they beat them. That’s like four predictions for one contest; I hope one of them is right.
A Random Midwestern's "End of Season" Prediction Note: This is not to put any group down. This is just a prediction based on my opinion, which is very biased toward the Midwestern style of Show Choir. And on top of that, I have little to no music education experience.
GC: Linn Mar (Sweep)
After watching 10th Street perform live at "Supernova," I feel Linn Mar has a great chance of winning here. After one performance, they were able to surpass and become my benchmark for a fantastic show choir (before seeing Linn Mar, my benchmark group was Wheaton North 2019) Choreography-wise, they are on a whole other level. Yes, they are clean. However, that is just a minor factor in what makes their choreography great. The primary thing is how the performers are just into the show. The energy they give to the move raises the choreography to the next level. In addition to that, everyone on stage knows what character they are portraying and never break out of that character throughout the show. Vocal-wise, I feel like people are sleeping on Linn Mar's vocals. They only lost that caption award to two groups this season, Valley "Choralation " and Waukee "Eos." Eos is pretty understandable because it was the first comp of the season, and Waukee "Eos" is Waukee EOS. Valley is HANDSDOWN, one of Iowa's most underrated show choirs for the last six years. This season alone is hands-down their best season of them all. They beat Urbandale for vocals at their first competition and only lost the vocal caption to Johnston. That should be justification by itself.
1RU: North Central
As many people have stated, North Central is a "late-blooming" group; they have a lot of potential to do well here. (I think it is pretty strange that people believe North Central is a "late-blooming group" because most early competitions are against some of the best show choirs in the Nation, Zionsville, FC, and Center Grove, so being placed below them isn't that bad) Another reason why I predicted them here is that they beat Fisher at Center Grove however, a lot can change from then to now.
2RU: Mt. Zion
I am the odd man with this prediction, but I think Mt. Zion has a good chance here. It could be that I love seeing this style of Dwight Jordan's choreography, but I like their show. But I can see Homewood swapping places with them.
3RU: Homewood
Homewood, for me, is a tough case. Chorgraphy-wise, they are amazing. However, the thing that is keeping me from predicting them higher is their vocals. I am not saying they are bad vocals. They are great; however, it sounds like something is missing. This could be my midwestern bias for show choir, but they must give the vocal phrase life. From the video I have seen (Which could be the source of this problem because videos don't consistently demonstrate the actual vocals of the group), each vocal phrase sounds flat to me. I want them to give that phrase some movement up and down back and forth.
A great example is Luther College Nordic Choir's "Neither Angels, Nor Demons, Nor Powers - Timothy C. Takach," where they repeat "I believe" over and over but treat each phrase with its own movement. So, heavy phrases feel heavier than others, and some just float into space. But, then again, this could be my midwestern vocal preference. This is not to hate on this fabulous show. It is a minor neat pick I had with the show. So little, in fact, that they probably would have fixed it before National.
4RU: Findlay
5RU: Hastings
6RU: Oak Mountain
But honestly, I see the 2RU to 6RU being a toss-up of these groups. It depends on how they perform that day and the judges' scoring during prelims and finals. I hope everyone does their best at this here.
Which performance of Homewood did you get to see? I will say that I had the same critique for them when I saw them live at SCC. It was at least partially fixed at Auburn in finals, but I agree that there is still work to do. There is always more work to do. Opelika was also a great performance for them, and I do have that recording from the live feed.
First, as an aside, I 100% agree about Valley being one of Iowa's most underrated choirs. They sing wonderfully.
I can't speak for everyone, but I have historically seen North Central come out on top when durig the beginning and middle of the season, they sometimes struggle to find their groove. 2018 obviously comes to mind. I remember in 2009, they had middling results at best. But then when they competed in New York, they were ahead of Powerhouse in prelims. But, that was many years ago, and maybe I need to move on lol.
Last I am so glad to have that recommendation of Luther College's choir. Dm me if you have more videos of choirs that you enjoy, please!
Unless Avon or Lawrence Central has a livestream, I doubt we’ll get one. I’ve seen a couple of show choir camp videos, but I don’t know if that’s the 2023 group, same show, on top of it being wholly unfair to judge August North Central vs. late February Linn Marr, etc.
Yeah… I’m having to score them based on last year, which is not ideal. It’s hard to predict when you beat groups you should be beating and lose to groups you should be losing to. Had they beaten Center Grove or lost to Fishers, it’d be a lot easier to guess, but even in 2018, they lost to someone that made me apprehensive of even putting them in finals, and we all know how that turned out.
I watched their SCC performance (as a video), which problem explains why I had that critique. It is nice to hear that they have been fixing that. That should really bring their show to the next level.
Here a Small List of my favorite choral performance
University Of Pretoria Camerata - Babel
https://youtu.be/VlEO44Q0fKY (Recording)
https://youtu.be/wR_UtTHSRdQ (Live Performance)
St. Olaf - My Soul's Been Anchored In The Lord
https://youtu.be/6GOxRcft94I (The quality is a bit dodgy, but Dr. Armstrong's choice to take it slower was amazing)
La Crosse Central Robed Choir 2005 - If Music be the Food of Love
https://youtu.be/QLX7OAjrDH4
University of Miami Choir - I Am Not Your (Z. Randall Stroope)
https://youtu.be/6cUbI8ibYZo
The Wartburg Choir - There is No Rose of Such Virtue
https://youtu.be/FT7EtcWktYs
Or UWEC Concert Choir (Under Dr. Gary R. Schwartzhoff)
https://youtu.be/6yHp4vFEQTE
The Singers - Joseph - Timothy C. Takach
https://youtu.be/94sJ6tmEuf0
Luther College's Nordic Choir - The Road Home
https://youtu.be/uX5GKfEWQsc
Luther College's Nordic Choir - Soon ah Will be done - Stacey Gibbs
https://youtu.be/aOSWMG_-dD4?list=RDGMEM8h-ASY4B42jYeBhBnqb3-w
Stanford Chamber - (Do Not Be Afraid) and (I Should Be Glad)
https://youtu.be/CmnjnCpIJvw (Do Not Be Afraid)
https://youtu.be/sGLsrNIL-mw (I Should Be Glad)
I figured. Just a heads up, half of them were sick too — and that’s in addition to SCC being an hour and some change behind before they had to perform. I spent the whole day with them and one week later ended up on bed rest for a day because my immune system isn’t doing too well right now. Hopefully, I’ll get to see them in Nashville, but I’m doubtful because I’m in the middle of a crazy move at the moment.
Show Choir Nationals 2023
