West Des Moines Valley 'Choralation"
Ceder Rapids Prairie "The Ambassadors"
Cedar Rapids Kennedy "Happiness, Inc"
Johnston "Innovation"
Ankeny "Visual Adrenaline"
Waukee "Mellenium"
Which puts Waukee as leading at the end of daytime.
random prediction. Right now I have CR Prairie in finals. I think it will be Ankeny, Kennedy, Waukee, Johnston, Valley, and Prairie, though not necessarily in that order.
Just to clear it up, Innovation is never able to win Best Band because we have a director PLUS a paid accompanist. Synergy's band is pretty much the same with a different drummer and guitarist, plus a student piano player who's just as good as our paid one, so if Johnston wins Best Band it'll actually be Synergy.
I think these are most accurate, although I haven't seen Waukee or Prairie. I heard about Waukee and her their closer is pretty good. However I think ultimately it just depends on who wants it more. I expect to see Ankeny really step it up at this competition. After getting beat by Happiness in the day round they snuck by the in the finals and won. I am, though, impressed with Johnston and can see them taking GC as well. When I saw them at their competition I would've placed them 2 behind Hastings. I guess where just going to have to see how it goes.
Ha! Well - I have my moments. Often few and far between, so I'll take 'em when I can get 'em.
Anyway - back on topic. It IS nice to see Johnston getting such good positive buzz on here (as opposed to the "you stomped all over my grandfather's funeral anthem" from 5 yrs ago...)
Martin, I totally agree. "Danny Boy" was one of a kind, and the green costumes that year were gorgeous as well.
Yes, Johnston did win FAME Branson in 2007 -- and what a weekend that was! We threw the trip together in about two weeks after Jody, along with Wendy Haight, decided the kids deserved to enter a national competition because they had had such a great season. Even more amazingly, some kids from the JV choir were pulled up to sing and dance the show because some Inno members were unable to make the trip. Those Synergy kids learned the show in days and did a great job (and nope, I am NOT biased .
It's been fun the last three years to watch the amazing work Jody has done with Dowling Catholic; before Jody took over, the choir had been deemed not ready for competition. A few weeks ago, they made finals at Waukee.
Good luck to Innovation and Synergy this weekend! They both have great shows, and we'll be looking for more "best soloist" honors for Marissa Broich and Jamerris Holder (along with a GC title for Inno, of course!).
And Martin, wish you could be here for Urbandale. How's the face?
Studio 2010 and Vitality rehearsed last night with the full lights and sound to work the kinks out before any of the performing groups hit the stage.
I think the sound in the Performing Arts Center is going to be amazing and it should be a great venue for a fun and competitive event. I look forward to watching show choirs for something like 20 hours this weekend. I hope everyone that attends has fun and is treated well by all of the Urbandale students and parents.
If any of you SCC'ers out there see me wandering the halls or helping present trophies, come say hi. See you tonight and tomorrow.
So, I am supposed to work from 11pm-7am from Friday night to Saturday morning. I have decided to take off at 3am, sleep for a few hours, and hopefully make it to Urbandale about the time for the first break or so.
I'm in one of the smaller groups competing this weekend! (: Our group is really excited to be preforming with such amazing groups, so please come watch us and support Grand Island Ultimate Image we would really appreciate it, and CANT WAIT to see your shows (:
If anyone is interested in talking to me at Urby this weekend to help with the song database, or just to talk, shoot me a PM. A competition with this many high quality groups will be a great boost to the site, and all of you can be a great help.