Maybe you got some deductions for 'Cookies'. I suspect that at least 5 or 6 audience members and 1 or 2 judges try to commit suicide every time you perform it.
Okay. I don't know, or care for that matter, who you are, and what affiliations with any show choir you may currently have, or ever have had in the past, present or future.
You should absolutely be ashamed of yourself for that statement. The kids from Milton work their butts off to make their show the best possible they possibly can and perform it to the best of their abilities. If you know even the slightest thing about show choir you would know the amount of hard work that goes into the design of a show. The kids aren't the ones that choose the songs that they perform, it is the hard work of the choreographers and the directors. To say that they deserve to be penalized for one song being "annoying" just because you didn't like it is a slap in the face to each one of those hard working kids, choreographers, directors, parents that help out, and the community that supports it.
As I said earlier. I don't mean for this to take away from Mayville. I haven't seen their show, and if it was chosen by the judges to be the Grand Champions, then they are very well deserving of that. Congratulations.
I was not at the competition, so I can't say whether or not Milton was the best there. I just feel that it is an absolute atrocity to insult a group for one song that you didn't like.
Milton, stay strong. Keep up the great performances, and make Mr. Schrank's final year as the director of Milton Choralation one that he can be proud of and will never forget.
edit:
Suicide!? Really? That is not something you even joke about. That is a serious issue, and may be the most insulting thing of all.
I would like to apologize to Milton. I agree, it is entirely possible (obviously) that you can get BV and BC and not get Grand Champs...it does happen. In my opinion, however, it should NOT happen...ever. The reason for it this time (as I've heard from fairly reliable sources) was from the ranking system which was used for Finals. Ranking systems typically have an extremely bad connotation, and for good reason. I don't know the break downs for any other schools, but Milton received 3 first places, 2 second places, a third, and a fourth.
Again, it is really just my opinion that ranking systems are an extremely unreliable way of judging, but like Adam said earlier...this sorta stuff just happens. But, Milton kids...keep your heads up...you were the best singing and dancing group there today, and in my opinion that makes you the best group. Period. I'm not saying that because I'm an alum...I would say it if this happened to any group. Like I said before...it just shouldn't happen.
Congrats to all groups for great performances...this scoring drama should not take away from what any of you have accomplished. Keep on singing your hearts out
All I can say is wow!! None of us at sauk ever thought that would happen!! I saw both Milton and Mayville in finals but I couldn't really make a call. And to Badgers54, did you see Mamma Mia? It was ALOT better than when we did it last week at Milton. At least i thought so! But I'm in the band, what can I say................. As far as execs show goes we all love it alot! I do think it's a little out of the box for us but a little variety is good!! I think it has the potential to be very powerful if performed right.
GCS
Mayville
Milton
Monona Grove
Madison East
Onalaska
Spread was only 15 points from top place to bottom. We took 7th, and missed 6th by 2 POINTS. This was probably due to technical problems at that, which is ridiculous. Gus will probably chime in later tonight; we're on the bus.
Even without the technical problems though, I thought it was a tossup between Preble and Madison East for the last finals spot. I thought Preble was slightly better but I can understand it going either way.
Just like Monona Grove, after watching all the shows, I picked five out of six finalists. Both times I thought the last finals spot was a tossup between two groups (Onalaska and Fort last time, Preble and East this time) but picked the wrong group for the last spot.
Other thoughts:
-After watching all of the finals, I had Milton as 1st runner up, but Onalaska as grand champions. I had Mayville at 4th runner up, which may have been a little low, but was definitely surprised to see them elevated all the way to the top.
-As Gus noted, at Sauk Prairie, vocals are 40% of the score, choreography is 40% of the score, and band is 20%. When I look at groups, I don't do a mathematical score (I just rank them) but my opinions are roughly vocals 60%, choreography 30%, band 10%. If that system had been in effect, obviously Milton wins.
-Hunchback of Notre Dame is a musical that actually works really well for show choir. So is Mamma Mia, which Sauk's prep group is doing.
-Sauk Prairie Executive Session is talented enough to have made the finals at Monona Grove, but their show is holding them back, I think. I think if Executive Session did Mamma Mia, they make finals at Monona Grove and at other competitions too.
-A couple pointers for my alma mater: Work on diction in Roll Over Beethoven. I've seen the show three times but I still can't understand many of the words. During the day show, diction was also lacking somewhat in Habaneras and Lacrimosa, but it got better during finals. Secondly, at in parts of Jai Ho, vocally, you sound kind of tired. This is understandable but not a good thing. Do whatever you can to pump up the vocal intensity just a bit. (And yes, I can tell the difference between where you are trying to be quiet, and when intensity is lacking. Choreography is good, now work on the vocals a bit.) I hope to see you do well at Fort and Brodhead. I won't be there in person, but will be following along on here.
-Between Monona Grove and Sauk, Onalaska improved more than I have ever seen any group improve in two weeks. Great job, even though I think you should have placed higher.
ADDED: -When I was in school, I always thought Mayville placed lower than they should have. So I'm OK with them placing higher this time.
I'm not going to comment too much, but I do want to clarify a few things:
The score sheet was not as stated above. It was the Indiana State School Music Association (whatever, haha). It was WEIGHTED 40/40/20 (Vocals / Choreo / Band), but points were different. Judges were free to assign points, and did not have any criteria to follow, for example, there is no category for blend, you don't rank it 1-10. You simply give them an overall score out of 50 for artistry and 50 for technique.
During the day round there were two judges for vocals, two judges for choreography, and one judge for band - making it 500 points.
There was a lot of averaging that took place, so the day round outcome was actually a bit more spread out than reported. From 1st - 6th was quite a jump.
I feel horrible for Milton. I know we, as well as almost every group I've ever seen, react after winning both BV and BC as if we have won the Grand Championship... because - in our experience - when that happens, we always have. Now, for some three year seniors in Choralation, they've gone through this TWICE. That's unreal.
From what I have seen, this scoresheet sounds like a joke. Hopefully, someone with knowledge can clarify and tell us there's more to it.
This is not to take anything away from Mayville. What a huge win! They should be extremely proud of their accomplishment.
Maybe you got some deductions for 'Cookies'. I suspect that at least 5 or 6 audience members and 1 or 2 judges try to commit suicide every time you perform it.
Cookies in my view is one of the best songs I have ever seen. I guess you either love it or hate it.
Totally interesting. Having never seen ANY of these groups it just proves that anything can happen between prelims and finals. Wish I could have been there.
Awesome job tonight, everyone, and special shoutout to my friends at Onalaska. Everyone had a great show, and I finally got to see Cookies, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Although I am surprised at the Mayville win (not that they're not great, but I thought others were better), I congratulate them on their Grand Champion status. Also congrats to the energetic Milton Choralation for getting Best Vocals/Best Choreo. Overall the finals was a really exciting experience.
Yeah, I know. It's just so bizarre that it would happen to Milton twice.
2008 Grand River - Vocals, Choreo, Took 2nd to Totino
2010 Sauk - Vocals, Choreo, 2nd to Mayville
I'm not saying that those groups didn't deserve to win, but that just sucks for Milton.
Maybe you got some deductions for 'Cookies'. I suspect that at least 5 or 6 audience members and 1 or 2 judges try to commit suicide every time you perform it.
Sauk Prairie Executive Session Invitational 2010
Everyone had a great show, and I finally got to see Cookies, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Although I am surprised at the Mayville win (not that they're not great, but I thought others were better), I congratulate them on their Grand Champion status. Also congrats to the energetic Milton Choralation for getting Best Vocals/Best Choreo. Overall the finals was a really exciting experience.
