I'm excited to go- I haven't missed a single Benton since 2009- my freshman year in high school.
Wow I'm old... Anyway, my prediction:
GC: Waukee
1RU: Valley
2RU: IC West
3RU: IC High
4RU: Toss-up: Xavier/Wash
Also, the 6th Finalist is reserved for the champion of the 2A/3A division. So...
5RU: Pella?
Captions: No. Idea. It's going to be a bloodbath for Best Vocals. Waukee, City, West, have ALL won Best Vocals so far this year.
I love this competition. It's going to be a tight race. It seems like Waukee is doing even better this year than they were last year, and Valley is REALLY picking up momentum (props to Ryan Denigan). IC West (my alma mater) has had a great season so far- they beat Valley in the day round at Waukee, but lost to them at night, and last year (I'm not sure if this is totes relevant), lost to Waukee here at Benton. Not to mention their win last weekend at Bloomington Kennedy. City is doing incredible (MAJOR props to Jim Berry), especially with their fantastic win at Supernova. Xavier's always done pretty well at this competition, they're great to watch. Wash has beaten Bemidji, Dav North, and Dav Central, Waconia and Ankeny so they must be pretty good-I just haven't heard them or seen them this year.
As always, there are some awesome AWESOME judges.
As far as the Prep Division goes, I'm looking at the top 3 being Showtime, Spirit, and Ignition (not necessarily in that order).
I'm really sad because I am going to be in Ames this weekend, so I am going to Urbandale's comp on Saturday instead
(can't afford all the gas for driving!)
I will say I think this will be the competition of the year vocally.
GC: Waukee
1RU: Iowa City High
2RU: Valley
3RU: Iowa City West
4RU: Washington
5RU: Xavier?
From what I know of these judges I don't believe amazingly clean choreography(almost robotic) is gunna help all that much. I'm not going to try to guess captions other than Waukee is probably going to win best vocals. Vocals are going to be the big decider because all groups have pretty amazing vocals so who ever does it better has the edge. I also believe the emotion and showmanship will win the judges. Should be a very good competition i might drive over to watch this one.
Not to mention the prep division!!!! Celebration, Spirit, and Showtime have all won prep GCs and Cele and Spirit both made finals this weekend and beat varsity groups. This competition is even and stacked all the way around!!! Vocally this competition should be amazing!!!
*edit Ignition is also tearing it up this year! Seriously I am awestruck at the depth of this entire competition!
Ignition is looking really good! Arguably the best prep group at Valley in a LONG time. And I agree on the depth... It keeps getting better. My wife is coming with me. She is from Arizona, so she doesn't understand at all what the show choir world is all about. She's a music education major in her final semesters, so I think this ought to be a good way to introduce her to show choir, do you all think?!
Let's make this even more interesting with a CR Washington GC tonight! That makes 4 groups with grand championships. And of course, Waukee now has two with a win over Studio 2014 tonight. I am SO glad I'm flying out for this one!
Not to mention the prep division!!!! Celebration, Spirit, and Showtime have all won prep GCs and Cele and Spirit both made finals this weekend and beat varsity groups. This competition is even and stacked all the way around!!! Vocally this competition should be amazing!!!
*edit Ignition is also tearing it up this year! Seriously I am awestruck at the depth of this entire competition!
This competition got a lot better with last nights results.
1. Iowa City "4th Ave. Jazz Co" won Linn Marr against VERY stiff competition.
2. WDM Valley won Waukee
3. Iowa City West placed 1st during the day at Waukee
4. Waukee won Prairie
Not to mention that CR Washington was in finals at Linn Marr (when Bemidji was not).
I am especially excited because this is the first competition I will be attending since I was a competitor in 2008! Because I go to school in Idaho, I have not been anywhere close to the show choir world and finances make it hard to travel. Thankfully I've finally found a way to make it! Cannot wait!
Let's make this even more interesting with a CR Washington GC tonight! That makes 4 groups with grand championships. And of course, Waukee now has two with a win over Studio 2014 tonight. I am SO glad I'm flying out for this one!
Divisions are:
Prep (CR Washington "Celebration" through SE Polk "Vocal Gold")
3A (Anamosa through Pella)
4A (CR Washington "Momentum" through Waukee "Millennium")
This was legit my favorite part of your posts. It's the little things.
8:05 Benton Community MS "Illusions" (exhibition)
8:30 CR Washington "Celebration"
8:55 Iowa City High "City Lights"
9:20 Indianola "SideWayz"
9:45 CR Xavier "Xuberance"
10:10 Waukee "Spirit"
10:35 Iowa City West "Showtime"
BREAK
11:10 WDM Valley "Ignition"
11:35 Indianola "Flip Side"
12:00 Southeast Polk "Vocal Gold"
12:25 Anamosa "Sadie Street Singers"
12:50 Benton Community HS "Jubilation, Inc." (exhibition)
LUNCH
1:25 Williamsburg "Sound Attraction"
1:50 Union High "Union Station"
2:15 Pella "AcaPella"
2:40 CR Washington "Momentum"
3:05 Southeast Polk "Ramification"
3:30 Iowa City High "4th Ave Jazz Company"
3:55 WDM Valley "Choralation"
4:20 CR Xavier "Xhilaration"
4:45 Indianola "Side One"
5:10 Iowa City West "Good Time Company"
5:35 Waukee "Millennium"
6:00 Benton Community HS "Celebration Co."
6:30 AWARDS
Divisions are:
Prep (CR Washington "Celebration" through SE Polk "Vocal Gold")
3A (Anamosa through Pella)
4A (CR Washington "Momentum" through Waukee "Millennium")
This competition got a lot better with last nights results.
1. Iowa City "4th Ave. Jazz Co" won Linn Marr against VERY stiff competition.
2. WDM Valley won Waukee
3. Iowa City West placed 1st during the day at Waukee
4. Waukee won Prairie
Not to mention that CR Washington was in finals at Linn Marr (when Bemidji was not).
I am especially excited because this is the first competition I will be attending since I was a competitor in 2008! Because I go to school in Idaho, I have not been anywhere close to the show choir world and finances make it hard to travel. Thankfully I've finally found a way to make it! Cannot wait!
I found a homeroom list on the Benton website. No schedule yet but here's a list of competing groups:
Anamosa "Sadie Street Singers"
Cedar Rapids Washington "Momentum"
Cedar Rapids Washington "Celebration"
Cedar Rapids Xavier "Xhilaration"
Cedar Rapids Xavier "Xuberance"
Indianola "Side One"
Indianola "Flip Side"
Indianola "Sidewayz"
Iowa City High "4th Ave. Jazz Company"
Iowa City High "City Lights"
Iowa City West "Good Time Company"
Iowa City West "Showtime"
Pella "AcaPella"
Southeast Polk "RAMification"
Southeast Polk "Vocal Gold"
Union "Union Station"
Waukee "Millennium"
Waukee "Spirit"
West Des Moines Valley "Choralation"
West Des Moines Valley "Ignition"
Williamsburg "Sound Attraction"