The FAME website has several press releases regarding choirs that participated in this event. They were really great reads, especially the one regarding Jefferson "Jive". I wasn't aware that this choir had a musical the same day and flew from Chicago back to Minnesota for the musical performance that evening. Sounds crazy, you Jefferson kids are incredible!
I also thought the article from the Hastings Star Gazette was interesting. According to the article, Hastings "Riverside Company" received the following placement rankings from the judges: 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 8. I'm not sure what the placement rankings for WWS "Classics", Los Al "Sound FX", or any other choir for that matter, but from looking at Hastings' rankings, it's possible that Hastings might have received 2nd place if that one judge hadn't given Hastings the "8" outlier placement. I'm not saying that one judge was wrong for having the outlier placement, as I haven't seen Hastings "Riverside Company" this season, not even on YouTube; I merely think it's interesting that six of the judges thought Hastings was a top 3 choir, yet the seventh judge placed Hastings 8th. Truly shows you how subjective show choir really is and how tough of a national championship this must've been!
FAME Website Jefferson "JIVE" Article Hastings "Riverside Company" Article
Kudos to the FAME staff - they pulled off a great event. Was wondering how Friday would go, but it was great to get feedback from the judges, then head back to the hotel for rehearsal to make some changes based on their comments.
As a proud mom, may I say I was blown away by Soundtrax's performance on Saturday?! They really stepped up and blew us away. So proud of my girls for their National Champ win!
Sound FX was amazing, but Wheaton delivered a great show -- congrats to them! Competing against such strong choirs was a privilege for our students. They were thrilled to be in Chicago for such a great opportunity.
I looked on their choir page and the record doesn't have them attending any?
They went to the second FAME Orlando which technically hasn't been made into an event yet, which is probably why it doesn't show up when you looked for it. They placed 4th to Mt.Z, Jackson Prep, and Findlay at FAME Orlando #2.
7: Brea Olinda
8: Oak Grove
9: South Jones
10: Edgewood
11: American Leadership Academy
12: Crete
13: Papillion South
14: Daniel Hand
15: Shepherd Hill
Having never been to a Nationals competition, I wonder about the spread of points. I would imagine that when you have so many top choirs that it would be fairly close... But I don't know.
Regardless, after the year the Edgewood kids have had, I'm proud they made it there and I know the community feels the same way.
Vocals: Los Al
Choreo: Wheaton
Band: Wheaton
Costumes: Los Al
Set design: Los Al
Opener: Los Al
Ballad: Los Al (absolutely incredible)
Closer: Wheaton
Dorothy: Tie
Scarecrow: Wheaton
Tinman: Wheaton
Lion: Wheaton
Monkeys: Los Al
Jitterbugs: Wheaton (I think those were jitterbugs.)
Wizard: Los Al (uncontested)
Good Witch: Los Al (uncontested)
Wicked Witch: Los Al
Wicked Witch's death: Wheaton
Energy: Wheaton
Ruby slippers: Los Al
Clicking of the Ruby slippers: Wheaton
Overall: Tie (judges preference absolutely decided this.)
My mind has been blown. I was at Fame LA, and I absolutely fell in love with California show choir and learned exactly what a truly wonderful thing it is. My few notes about this whole deal:
No one get offended by this please, because both groups are extremely wonderful and I love them both to death, but I'm happy that Soundtrax finally took the front of the pack because they were truly amazing at Hollywood(or Thousand Oaks, since that's actually where it was ;)), and I really wanted them to win it there as well as at Nationals. Great job to Brea Olinda, you all are truly wonderful people.
I'm undecided about how I feel on Wheaton Warrenville winning. I've seen bits and pieces of their show, and what I saw was not nearly as impressive as last year, at least for me. However, there is no doubt in my mind that they are an incredible group of men and women to go out and perform this show with their whole life and then some. I'm was blown away by Los Alamitos at Hollywood (SoundFX, you guys are now my alltime favorite show choir (: ), and I just can't imagine a show that beats opening with Smells Like Teen Spirit as the most haunting and impacting opener I've ever seen. It's honestly my favorite show of the whole season and one of the best shows I've seen come out of a high school in years. However, kudos to both groups for an amazing job well done, can't wait until next week when I get paid and can buy the DVD of all of the choirs and watch this for myself, and see both groups compete at the same place for once. (:
All in all, I'm very proud of the world of show choir for really turning into something beautiful and inspiring so many people to follow their dreams and reach beyond the talent they thought they had. I cannot wait to become a choral director and inspire people in this very same way. I love you show choir! (:
7: Brea Olinda
8: Oak Grove
9: South Jones
10: Edgewood
11: American Leadership Academy
12: Crete
13: Papillion South
14: Daniel Hand
15: Shepherd Hill
Results at the top of the page for those who have missed them! (Not saying Jeff did when he posted this )
You'll have to trust me that they weren't there when I posted that...
Best Crew: Brea Olinda
Best Horn: Oak Grove
Best Rhythm Section: Wheaton Warrenville
Best Diction: Los Alamitos
Best Female Sound: Los Alamitos sound trax
Best Male Sound: Hastings
Mos original selection: jungle monkey Hastings
Best Costumes: Los Alamitos Sound FX
Best Show Design: Los Alamitos Sound Trax
Best Combo: Wheaton Warrenville
Fame Award: Findlay
Best Male Solo: Mount Zion Clint Gibbons
Best Female Solo: Crete Monee.. Sorry didn't get the name
Best Female Stage Presence: Eisenhower Miranda Brown
Best Male Stage Presence: Wheaton Warrenville Mike ____
No results yet? Are they not "Fame Fast" at this event?
Results at the top of the page for those who have missed them! (Not saying Jeff did when he posted this )
FAME Show Choir National Finals 2012
