probably Nancy Slife from Twinsburg(she's good). If it's Crandall, it'd be Mike Crandall former director of Teays Valley(also very good). Mike judged at Poca. He also judged States in 2005
A judge that has already judged most groups at Poca will be a judge at WVMEA's? When and how are the judges selected?
QUOTE(fischerclassix06 @ Feb 26 2007, 02:21 PM) 388640
I'm interested in this year's states, does anyone know like who selected the judges, was it WVMEA or people from midland?
Go back and check Shayne's comments on the judges. (I think it is under the Capital VIP topic.) However, you can make sure all the judges will be "in the circuit".
Who is in charge of States in Iowa? Does a high school host the competition and if so are they elgible to compete?
The Iowa High School Music Association is the organization that sets up and runs the festival; no individual school plays a part in planning or execution. Typically, it is held at a high school that volunteers its facilities (knowing that it will earn a substantial profit from concession sales). As far as I know, there are no restrictions on what groups may participate. But like I said, Iowa is different from West Virginia in that our State festival does not literally rank schools against each other. Officially speaking, the quality of one school's performance has absolutely no effect on another school's performance. Theoretically, if every single choir in attendance had a dynamite performance, they could ALL be given scores between 36 and 40 (or whatever the range is) and thus earn a Division I ranking.
Who is in charge of States in Iowa? Does a high school host the competition and if so are they elgible to compete?
the IMHSA (?) hosts, its not a school or anything. And I am pretty sure anyone is elgible.
I know my group would go, why? No clue... it is really pointless... but they do have good food.
I know Iowa is half a continent away from West Virginia, but this discussion sounds more than a little familiar to me. Where it sounds like you guys are right now is exactly where Iowa was about a decade ago. The state competition in Iowa used to be one of the major high points of the season, putting pretty much every great choir in the state at one place in one day. The big difference between that and this is that WV actually ranks the groups. Iowa specifically avoids doing that, choosing instead to take the large group ensemble route: scoring based on points, with point ranges falling into five divisions (Division I- Superb down through Division V- You Might As Well Get Rid Of Your Music Program). Of course, that certainly didn't stop schools from trying to outscore each other within Division I, and then brag about it for weeks afterwards.
During the 90's, directors and students alike started getting tired participating in what was officially an exhibition. There was no tension and no trophy, and the judging was often questionable or bizarre. A lot of groups got frustrated and stopped attending. The trend continued, and we are left with the Iowa state competition as it is now: a joke of an event. In a state with hundreds of show choirs, only 10-14 groups come each year to the state festival. Typically, they are small rural schools and/or groups that only "compete" at the state festival for a ranking. There has been no motivation or incentive for any of the big or talented schools to come to the festival. In fact, there may never have been- it seems like schools were just coming out of habit more than anything.
I think "statewide" competitions are the exact same thing as "national" competitions- sure, you won, but only because you were there and some other groups weren't. The only people (generally speaking) who care about those results are the ones who were in competition there anyway. It would be next to impossible to set up a true statewide competition, because you would have to ensure that every competitive group in the state made it to that one festival. (Iowa attempts to do that by not allowing any other competitions to be held on the same day as State, but that fails miserably.) The whole concept just doesn't make any sense, and doesn't do many people any good in the long run.
Who is in charge of States in Iowa? Does a high school host the competition and if so are they elgible to compete?
QUOTE(fischerclassix06 @ Feb 25 2007, 11:17 PM) 388399
i know many people make up two names so their choir doesn't get in trouble, it may be someone we already know just doing that...
QUOTE(GAsax27 @ Feb 25 2007, 11:48 PM) 388415
yeah, I caught someone doing that today...they posted something under their normal name they meant to post under their fake name..they fixed it right away.
I would also like to mention that unless you have specific permission from SCC administrators, one person having two usernames is prohibited.
I'm getting a little tired of people thinking that states is the ultimate say so as to which five groups are the best in the state. I agree that something unexpected always happens at states because the whole competition is a little screwy. The entire format of the states competition needs to be reconsidered. Has anyone noticed that fewer high school choirs show up each year for this competition? Capital, Princeton, Winfield, Herbert Hoover, Ripley? These groups use to be regulars at states. There is a reason why these groups have decided to sit this competition out.
I know Iowa is half a continent away from West Virginia, but this discussion sounds more than a little familiar to me. Where it sounds like you guys are right now is exactly where Iowa was about a decade ago. The state competition in Iowa used to be one of the major high points of the season, putting pretty much every great choir in the state at one place in one day. The big difference between that and this is that WV actually ranks the groups. Iowa specifically avoids doing that, choosing instead to take the large group ensemble route: scoring based on points, with point ranges falling into five divisions (Division I- Superb down through Division V- You Might As Well Get Rid Of Your Music Program). Of course, that certainly didn't stop schools from trying to outscore each other within Division I, and then brag about it for weeks afterwards.
During the 90's, directors and students alike started getting tired participating in what was officially an exhibition. There was no tension and no trophy, and the judging was often questionable or bizarre. A lot of groups got frustrated and stopped attending. The trend continued, and we are left with the Iowa state competition as it is now: a joke of an event. In a state with hundreds of show choirs, only 10-14 groups come each year to the state festival. Typically, they are small rural schools and/or groups that only "compete" at the state festival for a ranking. There has been no motivation or incentive for any of the big or talented schools to come to the festival. In fact, there may never have been- it seems like schools were just coming out of habit more than anything.
I think "statewide" competitions are the exact same thing as "national" competitions- sure, you won, but only because you were there and some other groups weren't. The only people (generally speaking) who care about those results are the ones who were in competition there anyway. It would be next to impossible to set up a true statewide competition, because you would have to ensure that every competitive group in the state made it to that one festival. (Iowa attempts to do that by not allowing any other competitions to be held on the same day as State, but that fails miserably.) The whole concept just doesn't make any sense, and doesn't do many people any good in the long run.
On a side note, it was very refreshing to see the two WV groups at Kettering be so supportive of each other this weekend. Kudos to St. Albans and Nitro! We need more of that!
St. Albans was also very supportive of Winfield at Teays Valley.
On a side note, it was very refreshing to see the two WV groups at Kettering be so supportive of each other this weekend. Kudos to St. Albans and Nitro! We need more of that!
QUOTE(fischerclassix06 @ Feb 25 2007, 09:17 PM) 388399
i know many people make up two names so their choir doesn't get in trouble, it may be someone we already know just doing that...
yeah, I caught someone doing that today...they posted something under their normal name they meant to post under their fake name..they fixed it right away.
I don't understand how someone "just" joins showchoir.com today and immediately starts to down Nitro...If I took it the wrong way, then I apologize. Just an observation.
i know many people make up two names so their choir doesn't get in trouble, it may be someone we already know just doing that...
My apologies ma'am. i dont mean to down nitro. I just think that considering nitro has to go so early in the day and whatnot i dont think they have a great chance at placing high. I think groups that go towards the end are better off, but like i said before i hope u prove me wrong. My predictions are based solely on what ive seen from the groups this year and their time slot at states. Please dont be offended
No offense taken. What competition have you seen this year?
Some of the groups that do not compete at States, do not compete because of problems with the competiton in the past.
I don't understand how someone "just" joins showchoir.com today and immediately starts to down Nitro...If I took it the wrong way, then I apologize. Just an observation.
My apologies ma'am. i dont mean to down nitro. I just think that considering nitro has to go so early in the day and whatnot i dont think they have a great chance at placing high. I think groups that go towards the end are better off, but like i said before i hope u prove me wrong. My predictions are based solely on what ive seen from the groups this year and their time slot at states. Please dont be offended
West Virginia State Show Choir Festival 2007
