I will say this: based on the videos I've seen of Sound FX and Sound System, I do think Sound System is stronger vocally and visually, and I enjoy their show overall more than Sound FX's. Something in my gut is just telling me Sound FX will win. I think they are really going to step it up at this competition, especially in finals, and will be extremely hard to beat. Who knows though. There are also several groups I wouldn't be surprised at all to see in the top 4 (Broken Arrow, Mt. Zion, El Paso, Lincoln Southwest). My gut is telling me to put Mitchell in that 4th spot, but anything can happen! This is probably the most competitive and difficult to predict lineup I've ever seen.
ALSO one more thing: Lots of people are talking about Los Alamitos vs. Center Grove (myself included), and I think Zionsville may be getting slightly overlooked and slept on. I honestly wouldn't be shocked to see either of Zionsville's groups jump into the top 2 in their divisions.
I had watched Center Grove over the last 8 years, and had the opportunity to see many choirs including California choirs performing over this time. I am not an expert in Judging the performance, but just from a pure entertainment perspective, I would say that this year's sound system show is one of the best show choir performances that I have ever seen over these years by any show choirs. It is so vocally and visually appealing and a joy to watch.
The discussion around Los Alamitos and Center Grove in the mixed division have made me curious about the single clef division predictions, as well. Whereas the predictions for mixed have been pretty evenly split, all the posted predictions for single clef have CG on top. I'm definitely not an expert in judging and scoring but I was a little surprised by this given the reputation of both Los Al groups. I know CG and Zionsville also have great reputations nationally but groups like the big 3 in California and Clinton always seem to do well at these kinds of competitions.
Granted, I've only seen a lot of these shows on live streams but what are the more knowledgeable show choir folks seeing with the single clef groups that have led to your predictions?
In any case, I'm really looking forward to this competition. I'm excited to see the full spectrum of shows and can't wait to see how it all turns out.
GC: Center Grove(BV)
2nd: Los Al(BC)
3rd: Zionsville
4th: Lincoln SW
5th: Broken Arrow
6th: Mitchell(BB)
7th: EPG
8th: Mt. Zion
9th: Pleasant Hill
10th: Waubonsie Valley
11th: Lincoln SW(Prep)
12th: Broken Arrow(Prep)
13th: Twin Lakes
14th: Pleasant Hill(Prep)
15th: Watseka
Single Gender Prediction:
GC: Center Grove(BV,BC)
2nd: Los Al
3rd: Broken Arrow (BB)
4th: Mt. Zion (Guys)
5th: Zionsville
6th: EPG
7th: Pleasant Hill (GIrls)
8th: Waubonsie Valley
9th: Mt. Zion (Guys)
10th: Pleasant Hill (Guys)
I’m curious. I’ve seen a lot of people change their mind as of recently about this competitions outcome. I wonder what’s your take on it because I would assume Los Al would the group everyone puts in first
Logically, it's because the Midwest has been competing for two months already, but this last weekend was the first chance anyone got to see multiple high-level choirs in California. It's difficult to make predictions for groups nobody has seen.
All of my placements are basically what I would place the groups if I was judging this comp. I know some people will disagree with me on this, but I just prefer watching Midwest Show Choirs, specifically Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Dakota, than other regions like California and New England. In California and New England it seems to be pretty easy to predict who the top 2 or 3 choirs will be, but in these other circuits that I mentioned, there are hundreds of groups that at any given comp could take the win. These groups really have to be the best of the best. Groups like Center Grove, Zionsville, Mitchell, and Broken Arrow all prove themselves time in and time out. I'm not saying that Los Al hasn't done that, but in my eyes, these other groups are on an even or elevated field that makes them battle hardened. I know Los Al is a really great group, but they just aren't my favorite to watch, so they aren't my favorite to support whole heartedly. Some groups I really have no reason to like as extensively as I do, ie. Roncalli, Center Grove, Valley, Papillion-LaVista, Lincoln Southwest, Ross, Shepherd Hill, Marysville, John Burroughs, El Paso-Gridley... And some groups that I know are great, I have not the greatest opinion of, ie. Homestead, Petal, Los Al, ETC, Prairie. I don't have anything against these groups, but inherently, I would be more willing to show open support towards other groups at their competitions. All groups will get support, but that support is limited and I am flawed. I WILL root for one of my favorites, but I will also send congratulations to whomever bests them. That probably made some people upset, but it is the truth, and tons of people do this, I am just admitting it. Anyways, Best of luck to all performing groups, for it is a battlefield of a comp. May the best choir win.
Mixed Division Predictions:
GC: Los Alamitos (BV, BC)
2nd- Center Grove
3rd- Lincoln Southwest
4th- Zionsville
5th- Broken Arrow
6th- Mitchell
7th- Mt Zion
8th- El Paso-Gridley
9th- Waubonsie Valley
10th- Pleasant Hill
11th- Lincoln Southwest (Prep)
12th- Twin Lakes
13th- Broken Arrow (Prep)
14th- Watseka
15th- Pleasant Hill (Prep)
Single Clef Predictions:
GC: Center Grove (BV)
2nd- Los Alamitos (BC)
3rd- Zionsville
4th- Mt Zion (Treble)
5th- Broken Arrow
6th- Pleasant Hill (Treble)
7th- El Paso-Gridley
8th- Mt Zion (Bass)
9th- Waubonsie Valley
10th- Pleasant Hill (Bass)
After seeing more shows and more comp results here are my final predictions.
Mixed Division:
GC- Center Grove (BV) (BC)
2nd- Los Alamitos
3rd- Zionsville
4th- Mitchell
5th- Lincoln Southwest
6th- Broken Arrow
7th- Mt Zion
8th- El Paso Gridley
9th- Waubonsie Valley
10th- Pleasant Hill
11th- Lincoln Southwest (Prep)
12th- Twin Lakes
13th- Watseka
14th- Pleasant Hill (Prep)
Single Clef:
GC- Center Grove (BV) (BC)
2nd- Zionsville
3rd- Los Alamitos
4th- Mt Zion (Treble)
5th- Broken Arrow (Treble)
6th- El Paso-Gridley
7th- Broken Arrow (Freshman?!?!? Prep?!?!? Idk)
8th- Pleasant Hill (Treble)
9th- Mt Zion (Bass)
10th- Waubonsie Valley
11th- Pleasant Hill (Bass)
A lot can change within a week. At this moment this is how I think will play out. For everyone that is attending, have fun! This is going to be an awesome competition, barring the time penalties that might happen.
If Burroughs was here, I have CG above them. Based on the videos I have seen, Center Grove is the best out of the three (Burroughs, Los Al, and CG). By the end of the season, that could change.
Tier 1 California groups do have a good track record at national competitions, so a Los al GC is very attainable.
Last time Los Alamitos lost to a non-California group was at Fame Nationals… in 2012. The big three (Los Al, Burbank, and Burroughs) typically don’t lose to out-of-state groups, and haven’t since 2018 (Burbank lost in Canada). I highly doubt that streak comes to an end, but Center Grove sings really well. Certainly an interesting matchup.
They all lost to Waubonsie Valley, when Sound Check was a force to be reckoned with. They beat Clinton in 2013, Burbank in 2014, and Burroughs in 2016. You should check out Waubonsie Valley's shows in 2013 and 2016. They were fantastic!
I do think Los Al will take the GC here. Good luck to all!
Wheaton Warrenville South Choral Classic 2024
