Dear Dude from Waconia, Does it matter if ihe is or is not from hastings anymore? no I didnt think so. So stop getting at conclusions when the conclusion doesnt matter. The whole point he was trying to make is to stop singling out groups and saying they didnt deserve it. DONE AND DONE.
People kept saying that waconia should have beet them and that mitchell should have beat them and that hastings was not even close to getting best vocals. BUT GUESS WHAT? Hastings obviously deserved it. ALL the judges put them in second and they beat clinton in vocals by 8 points. Which means they probably beat the rest of the groups by TONS of points. so lets jsut end this now. All groups were amazing.
I am so jealous I couldn't go this contest. BUT, I get to read all about it now...Or not.
I find it interesting that both sides of the "Hastings, historically, has been one of the better singing groups in the Nation" argument are getting run through the fire for simply stating their opinions. Maybe, if the argument were to continue and we wanted civil debate, we should declare a definition for the term 'historically'.
I will say, the Hastings I saw and loved during my time in high school (2002-2006) was always fun to watch, but has seemed to take that next step to being a show choir army/powerhouse. This season especially, they seem to be raking in the vocal accolades and should be commended and proud for their accomplishments. This year. I don't believe that looking into the past is a good barometer for much of anything, but if you ask a person to do it and they do, then that can of worms is opened and needs to be civilly discussed or agreed to be disagreed upon.
Can we PLEASE get back to the topic of how ridiculously amazing this competition was and how awesome Ana looked? (nobody has mentioned it, honestly.)
Ok first of all... I have a REALLY hard time believing that you are from Grand Island Northwest and can remember extremely precise awards from back when I was in high school about a group two states away from you. How about you take your alumni biased goggles off and actually read what I said. You are twisting around my words to make it sound like I am a Hastings hater. I am not.
Secondly, you listing all those awards means nothing. Did you notice how most of those awards were NOT best vocals? I'm not trying to say anything against Hastings. Like I said in my earlier post I love Hastings' show this year (especially their vocals), I've always found their shows to be fresh and exciting, and I love Hastings so much I chose to host them when they came to our competition in 2004. All I was saying is Hastings is not a vocal powerhouse. Sorry, that is my opinion, but it is also backed up by all those results and awards you listed (most of them not being best vocals).
Thirdly, I'm not saying they never won best vocals. I'm just saying at all the competitions I saw them live at they didn't. To me that means that they are not a vocal powerhouse, because if they were I would've seen them win a couple of awards.
Fourthly, Ana always looks incredibly amazing and I wish I had been able to travel and see her But the rest of this post was being completely redundant and basically repeating my last post. So I am ending this post...
...now.
Uggghh who said I was at those shows?? Geez I simply looked it up on their website. I did however attend the 2009 2010 and 2011 Swinging on the River. They do such a great job putting that show on and their auditorium is top notch.
Me thinks you give yourself much importance when you can state that a group isn't a vocal powerhouse because they didn't win at the shows you attended. :/. Just sayin.
I would assume this post is supposed to be a list of all the awards Hastings Riverside Company has won in the past years. However, I don't feel like this matches the beginning of your post saying that we should praise all groups for their hard work? Also, why are 2007 and 2008 missing?
I didn't want the post to be much longer. It was a lengthy list and truly during those years they didn't go to very many competitions (most likely due to budget). The point here is that a choir doesn't have to win at every show or every year to be an awesome group with strong vocals which Hastings and other groups are.
All of the groups at Totino were absolutely amazing (there, how's that for group praise). But if people on this forum are going to single out one or two groups (in this case Hastings) based on incorrect information and bias, then it becomes necessary to straighten out the record with the record.
Ok first of all... I have a REALLY hard time believing that you are from Grand Island Northwest and can remember extremely precise awards from back when I was in high school about a group two states away from you. How about you take your alumni biased goggles off and actually read what I said. You are twisting around my words to make it sound like I am a Hastings hater. I am not.
Secondly, you listing all those awards means nothing. Did you notice how most of those awards were NOT best vocals? I'm not trying to say anything against Hastings. Like I said in my earlier post I love Hastings' show this year (especially their vocals), I've always found their shows to be fresh and exciting, and I love Hastings so much I chose to host them when they came to our competition in 2004. All I was saying is Hastings is not a vocal powerhouse. Sorry, that is my opinion, but it is also backed up by all those results and awards you listed (most of them not being best vocals).
Thirdly, I'm not saying they never won best vocals. I'm just saying at all the competitions I saw them live at they didn't. To me that means that they are not a vocal powerhouse, because if they were I would've seen them win a couple of awards.
Fourthly, Ana always looks incredibly amazing and I wish I had been able to travel and see her But the rest of this post was being completely redundant and basically repeating my last post. So I am ending this post...
...now.
One of my favorite memories of you- Galloping down the hallway at Mo Show 2004 screaming on the top of your lungs "HHHHHHHHAAAAAAASSSSSTTTTTIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGSSSSS IS HERE!!!!!!"
So because you didn't see them win Best Vocals it didn't happen????
Ok first of all... I have a REALLY hard time believing that you are from Grand Island Northwest and can remember extremely precise awards from back when I was in high school about a group two states away from you. How about you take your alumni biased goggles off and actually read what I said. You are twisting around my words to make it sound like I am a Hastings hater. I am not.
Secondly, you listing all those awards means nothing. Did you notice how most of those awards were NOT best vocals? I'm not trying to say anything against Hastings. Like I said in my earlier post I love Hastings' show this year (especially their vocals), I've always found their shows to be fresh and exciting, and I love Hastings so much I chose to host them when they came to our competition in 2004. All I was saying is Hastings is not a vocal powerhouse. Sorry, that is my opinion, but it is also backed up by all those results and awards you listed (most of them not being best vocals).
Thirdly, I'm not saying they never won best vocals. I'm just saying at all the competitions I saw them live at they didn't. To me that means that they are not a vocal powerhouse, because if they were I would've seen them win a couple of awards.
Fourthly, Ana always looks incredibly amazing and I wish I had been able to travel and see her But the rest of this post was being completely redundant and basically repeating my last post. So I am ending this post...
I am so jealous I couldn't go this contest. BUT, I get to read all about it now...Or not.
I find it interesting that both sides of the "Hastings, historically, has been one of the better singing groups in the Nation" argument are getting run through the fire for simply stating their opinions. Maybe, if the argument were to continue and we wanted civil debate, we should declare a definition for the term 'historically'.
I will say, the Hastings I saw and loved during my time in high school (2002-2006) was always fun to watch, but has seemed to take that next step to being a show choir army/powerhouse. This season especially, they seem to be raking in the vocal accolades and should be commended and proud for their accomplishments. This year. I don't believe that looking into the past is a good barometer for much of anything, but if you ask a person to do it and they do, then that can of worms is opened and needs to be civilly discussed or agreed to be disagreed upon.
Can we PLEASE get back to the topic of how ridiculously amazing this competition was and how awesome Ana looked? (nobody has mentioned it, honestly.)
So because you didn't see them win Best Vocals it didn't happen????
It's ludicrous how critical some on this list are with no regard for the truth and hard work that ALL schools, vocal programs and show choirs that work so hard to put on a great quality performance.
Enough with the bashing. It would be a breath of fresh air to hear more positive things said about ALL of the groups.
2005 - Best Combo and Best Choreography at Viterbo; Best Choreography at Monona Grove; Best Choreography, Best Vocals, Best Combo and Best Crew at Bloomington Gold; Best Vocals at Old Abe Winterfest; Outstanding Male Soloist, Best Choreography, Best Vocals and Best Crew at Totino-Grace
2006 - Outstanding Male Soloist at Viterbo and Monona Grove; Best Choreography, Best Vocal Group and Best Male Soloist at Old Abe Winter-fest; Outstanding Female Soloist at Lewis Central Invitational; Best Rhythm Section at Fame Show Choir Cup World Championship
2009 - Best Choreography at Viterbo, Gretna, Sioux City and Mitchell; Best Vocals at Gretna, Eau Claire, Sioux City and Mitchell; Best Combo at Eau Claire; Best Male Soloist and Male Performer at Sioux City; Best Female Soloist at Mitchell
2010 - Best Choreography at Onalaska and Johnston; Best Vocals at Onalaska and Johnston; Best Combo at Gretna; Best Female Soloist at Gretna, Johnston and Totino-Grace; Best Crew at Johnston; Best Repertoire at FAME Show Choir Cup Chicago
2011 - Best Choreography at Viterbo, UNL Midwest Cup, Johnston and LaCrosse Logan; Best Vocals at Viterbo, UNL Midwest Cup, Altoona and Totino-Grace; Best Band at UNL Midwest Cup and Johnston; Best Male Soloist at Johnston, Altoona and Totino-Grace; Spirit Award at Altoona and Totino-Grace; Best Closer at LaCrosse Logan; People's Choice at LaCrosse Logan
I would assume this post is supposed to be a list of all the awards Hastings Riverside Company has won in the past years. However, I don't feel like this matches the beginning of your post saying that we should praise all groups for their hard work? Also, why are 2007 and 2008 missing?
I'm sure there are a lot of great choirs that I didn't have on my list that could've given all of those choirs a run for their money. It was nothing personal to any choir, I just listed the choirs that I was aware of. Fairfield isn't a choir I am familiar with.
No offense taken. They're pretty solid. I don't know if you'll be there, but Fairfield will be at FAME Chicago.
I'm probably gonna get bashed on for this, but I have seen Hastings live in 2004, '05, '06 (twice), '10 and now '11. I've even hosted them before. I've always thought Riverside Company had extremely fun shows, but to be quite honest and factual, none of the times I ever saw Hastings live did they win Best Vocals, until this year at Viterbo. This year is a BIG step up in vocal quality for this program, something I love. But I would not call them one of the top singing groups in the nation. To me that is a really big stretch. Now I really love Hastings' show this year and I'm not trying to bash them, but if they were really one of the top singing groups in the nation wouldn't I have seen them win Best Vocals before this year?.
So because you didn't see them win Best Vocals it didn't happen????
It's ludicrous how critical some on this list are with no regard for the truth and hard work that ALL schools, vocal programs and show choirs that work so hard to put on a great quality performance.
Enough with the bashing. It would be a breath of fresh air to hear more positive things said about ALL of the groups.
2005 - Best Combo and Best Choreography at Viterbo; Best Choreography at Monona Grove; Best Choreography, Best Vocals, Best Combo and Best Crew at Bloomington Gold; Best Vocals at Old Abe Winterfest; Outstanding Male Soloist, Best Choreography, Best Vocals and Best Crew at Totino-Grace
2006 - Outstanding Male Soloist at Viterbo and Monona Grove; Best Choreography, Best Vocal Group and Best Male Soloist at Old Abe Winter-fest; Outstanding Female Soloist at Lewis Central Invitational; Best Rhythm Section at Fame Show Choir Cup World Championship
2009 - Best Choreography at Viterbo, Gretna, Sioux City and Mitchell; Best Vocals at Gretna, Eau Claire, Sioux City and Mitchell; Best Combo at Eau Claire; Best Male Soloist and Male Performer at Sioux City; Best Female Soloist at Mitchell
2010 - Best Choreography at Onalaska and Johnston; Best Vocals at Onalaska and Johnston; Best Combo at Gretna; Best Female Soloist at Gretna, Johnston and Totino-Grace; Best Crew at Johnston; Best Repertoire at FAME Show Choir Cup Chicago
2011 - Best Choreography at Viterbo, UNL Midwest Cup, Johnston and LaCrosse Logan; Best Vocals at Viterbo, UNL Midwest Cup, Altoona and Totino-Grace; Best Band at UNL Midwest Cup and Johnston; Best Male Soloist at Johnston, Altoona and Totino-Grace; Spirit Award at Altoona and Totino-Grace; Best Closer at LaCrosse Logan; People's Choice at LaCrosse Logan
why is everything so hostile?
guys, i hate to be condescending but it's okay if someone doesn't exactly enjoy the aesthetic of a group and you do and vice versa. some people neeeeeed to learn the appropriate way to share opinions. haha. i'm starting to get really offended in this forum to be honest. sometimes we understand, okay? that's all.
every group at tg was fantastic. EVERY SINGLE GROUP. trust me, i was there.
i don't know, take this or leave it but i felt like it needed to be said.
all performers are wonderful, no matter the placing.
trophies are nice but in the end they're just hard shiny plastic.
i guess that's my piece.
why is everything so hostile?
guys, i hate to be condescending but it's okay if someone doesn't exactly enjoy the aesthetic of a group and you do and vice versa. some people neeeeeed to learn the appropriate way to share opinions. haha. i'm starting to get really offended in this forum to be honest. sometimes we understand, okay? that's all.
every group at tg was fantastic. EVERY SINGLE GROUP. trust me, i was there.
i don't know, take this or leave it but i felt like it needed to be said.
all performers are wonderful, no matter the placing.
trophies are nice but in the end they're just hard shiny plastic.
i guess that's my piece.
Because if you haven't and can't see them live, all you've got is YouTube. That's too bad because I've seen them live various times per year for the last three years. Lucky me.
As I've seen them live every year since 2004...
usually their vocals aren't the best, but their show designs are always the best and have wonderful selections. And they've really taken that extra step when they took on Stephen Todd instead of Andrew Cao.
Jay isn't saying their vocals are bad, he is just saying they aren't as great as groups he has seen live. Especially last year. But saying there is proof in youtube videos is false because you can not compare to what happened from groups you've seen live and seen on youtube.
Hastings has never been strong vocally??? bahahaha, one of the top singing groups in the nation. I dont even know why I keep defending them but they have ALWAYS been strong in vocals.
I'm probably gonna get bashed on for this, but I have seen Hastings live in 2004, '05, '06 (twice), '10 and now '11. I've even hosted them before. I've always thought Riverside Company had extremely fun shows, but to be quite honest and factual, none of the times I ever saw Hastings live did they win Best Vocals, until this year at Viterbo. This year is a BIG step up in vocal quality for this program, something I love. But I would not call them one of the top singing groups in the nation. To me that is a really big stretch. Now I really love Hastings' show this year and I'm not trying to bash them, but if they were really one of the top singing groups in the nation wouldn't I have seen them win Best Vocals before this year?
Vocal powerhouse programs (meaning wins best vocals all the time every year for a long time) for me include groups like North Central, Huntington North, La Crosse Central, Findlay, Omaha Westside, Clinton, John Burroughs, and lately groups like Waubonsie Valley, Burbank, Carmel, Totino-Grace and Cedar Rapids Xavier. Or past groups like Ankeny under Brandon Dean and Lafayette Jefferson 2005 and before. Those to me are groups that you just figure are going to win Best Vocals wherever they go to compete because they have a solid core sound that doesn't change from year to year.
Because if you haven't and can't see them live, all you've got is YouTube. That's too bad because I've seen them live various times per year for the last three years. Lucky me.
I'm sure there are a lot of great choirs that I didn't have on my list that could've given all of those choirs a run for their money. It was nothing personal to any choir, I just listed the choirs that I was aware of. Fairfield isn't a choir I am familiar with.
Totino-Grace Show Choir Spectacular 2011
