That's exactly what it is. Some competitions (like mine) will also reward groups for coming back based on their finish i.e. Cedar Rapids Kennedy will go last this year because they won the competition last year
There's nothing wrong with that. That has often been the way Marching Band and Drum Corps have done it.
Surprising! I thought for sure Waukee would have had all 1's. Not surprised Valley was as close to Iowa City as they were. My wife confessed to me that Iowa City had her favorite show after all
I know you guys have all been waiting so here goes. Pella got all 6ths so I won't bother showing them. All scores are out of 100 and then converted into rankings.
Chapman:
1st- IC High (92)
2nd- Waukee (91)
3rd- Washington (85)
4th- Valley (84)
5th- IC West (82)
Drinkall:
1st- Waukee (93)
2nd- IC High (91)
3rd- Valley (89)
4th- Washington (86)
5th- IC West (85)
Sands:
1st- Waukee (92)
2nd- IC West (89)
3rd- Valley (85)
4th- IC High (83)
5th- Washington (82)
Woodin:
1st- Waukee (89)
2nd- Valley (87)
3rd- IC High (86)
4th- Washington (82)
5th- IC West (80)
Crisler:
1st- Waukee (96)
2nd- Valley (94)
3rd- IC West (92)
4th- IC High (91)
5th- Washington (90)
Eklund:
1st- Waukee (94)
2nd- Valley (90)
3rd- IC High (86)
4th- IC West (85)
5th- Washington (78)
Overall:
Waukee 2 1 1 1 1 1 = 7
Valley 4 3 3 2 2 2 = 16
IC High 1 2 4 3 4 3 = 17
IC West 5 5 2 5 3 4 = 24
Washington 3 4 5 4 5 5 = 26
So it was a very close competition throughout. Specifically, IC High and Valley were really close, as were IC West and Wash. 3 judges had West ahead and 3 had Wash ahead.
To be fair, all of the Cali groups see each other every flippin weekend (there's nowhere else to go, so it's not really a matter of choice), but they are still plenty prepared for national comps. I agree with you that variety during the year would be desirable, but I'm not sure that it puts you at a significant advantage. More than anything, I think a variety of judges would make a greater impact than anything else - and you can still get that from local competitions in the same area.
Also, when you go back to competitions year after year, you tend to get better time slots. If they switch their schedule around they might be performing at 1:00 every time out rather than 4:30 or 5.
Just out of curiosity, why is that? Is it like, a reward for being loyal to the competition? I'm not a show choir director, but that doesn't seem very fair to the other groups.
Of course, Burroughs and Burbank are both twice the size of a Cedar Rapids high school. It's easier when you have a large high schools like there or ones in Indianapolis to consistently compete against the best. North Central and Carmel are even bigger than Burroughs and Burbank. Iowa high schools tend to be around the 1200-1600 range.
Yah, it usually has to do with loyalty. I guess it's not "fair" to the other groups, but that is how most competitions work around here. Maybe it doesn't happen that way as much in LA because there are only a couple top tier groups, so they always go around each other at the end.
Just out of curiosity, why is that? Is it like, a reward for being loyal to the competition? I'm not a show choir director, but that doesn't seem very fair to the other groups.
That's exactly what it is. Some competitions (like mine) will also reward groups for coming back based on their finish i.e. Cedar Rapids Kennedy will go last this year because they won the competition last year
Coming from a choir that is actually going to a National Competition this year, I can understand why Waukee isn't going/doesn't do them. Because of the financial aspect of the trip we are staying very local for our "regular season" competitions. I assume Waukee would do the same thing and then be stuck going to Johnston, Urbandale, Southeast Polk, maybe Indianola, where they would see all of the same choirs over and over again, and probably some of those would have lower competition levels than those they got at Prairie and Benton. How does that prepare you for a national competition?
To be fair, all of the Cali groups see each other every flippin weekend (there's nowhere else to go, so it's not really a matter of choice), but they are still plenty prepared for national comps. I agree with you that variety during the year would be desirable, but I'm not sure that it puts you at a significant advantage. More than anything, I think a variety of judges would make a greater impact than anything else - and you can still get that from local competitions in the same area.
Also, when you go back to competitions year after year, you tend to get better time slots. If they switch their schedule around they might be performing at 1:00 every time out rather than 4:30 or 5.
Just out of curiosity, why is that? Is it like, a reward for being loyal to the competition? I'm not a show choir director, but that doesn't seem very fair to the other groups.
Coming from a choir that is actually going to a National Competition this year, I can understand why Waukee isn't going/doesn't do them. Because of the financial aspect of the trip we are staying very local for our "regular season" competitions. I assume Waukee would do the same thing and then be stuck going to Johnston, Urbandale, Southeast Polk, maybe Indianola, where they would see all of the same choirs over and over again, and probably some of those would have lower competition levels than those they got at Prairie and Benton. How does that prepare you for a national competition? I would rather see different groups all year long than compete against the same groups at every competition just so you get SOME different groups at Nationals. Also, when you go back to competitions year after year, you tend to get better time slots. If they switch their schedule around they might be performing at 1:00 every time out rather than 4:30 or 5.
And then that is not even including the $600+ that they would need in order to compete. I don't know how much competing on the FAME circuit costs, but because we are here in Iowa we would need to take TWO large trips if we were to compete in finals. Groups like Los Al, Wheaton, BG, Burroughs, etc all have qualifiers/finals that are in their home area. Therefore they only have to spend half as much. Old-school showstoppers trips would cost $1,000+ per student and that was without flying back in the mid-2000s. I can only assume competing at FAME would cost more than 600.
I mean, I obviously understand why people want to compete at national competitions against the highest quality groups. But I can also understand why some directors/principals/school boards would think it was a waste of time and money. That could be a reason why CR Jefferson wouldn't do a national competition between for 16 years! They were definitely a national powerhouse during that time and didn't need to be afraid of groups.
Great point! My point of view is probably not very fair. Clearly my perspective is not a directors perspective!
PS- is there a way to change your thumbs up/down? I meant to give you a thumbs up but my stupid phone hit the wrong one. My bad!
To say that Iowa show choirs in general don't compete on the national scene is fairly inaccurate I mean last year Ankeny got 2ndRU at Fame Nationals and won Orlando. And if I remember correctly CR Kennedy won SCN in nashville in 2012 and when I was in Nashville in 2010 their was Johnston and Urbandale and they both did fantastic considering how loaded that contest was. I mean I think we can all tell that Waukee is arguably one of the best show choirs in the country and I have never even seen them live. I think that while competing against top notch choirs across the country is entertaining it is not necessary for you to have a great choir.
My point wasn't that Iowa show choirs don't compete nationally, because they very much do. Rather, I wish more prominent Iowa choirs would more actively seek out the more competitive competitions. I'm not saying they never do, but they clearly do not as much as say, Waubonsie or Wheaton or especially Burbank and Burroughs (a lot can be said about being in Cali away from the Midwest, however).
I'm sure their directors have their reasons and they are probably good I am just a narrow minded alumni who wants to see the best competitions possible..
Coming from a choir that is actually going to a National Competition this year, I can understand why Waukee isn't going/doesn't do them. Because of the financial aspect of the trip we are staying very local for our "regular season" competitions. I assume Waukee would do the same thing and then be stuck going to Johnston, Urbandale, Southeast Polk, maybe Indianola, where they would see all of the same choirs over and over again, and probably some of those would have lower competition levels than those they got at Prairie and Benton. How does that prepare you for a national competition? I would rather see different groups all year long than compete against the same groups at every competition just so you get SOME different groups at Nationals. Also, when you go back to competitions year after year, you tend to get better time slots. If they switch their schedule around they might be performing at 1:00 every time out rather than 4:30 or 5.
And then that is not even including the $600+ that they would need in order to compete. I don't know how much competing on the FAME circuit costs, but because we are here in Iowa we would need to take TWO large trips if we were to compete in finals. Groups like Los Al, Wheaton, BG, Burroughs, etc all have qualifiers/finals that are in their home area. Therefore they only have to spend half as much. Old-school showstoppers trips would cost $1,000+ per student and that was without flying back in the mid-2000s. I can only assume competing at FAME would cost more than 600.
I mean, I obviously understand why people want to compete at national competitions against the highest quality groups. But I can also understand why some directors/principals/school boards would think it was a waste of time and money. That could be a reason why CR Jefferson wouldn't do a national competition between for 16 years! They were definitely a national powerhouse during that time and didn't need to be afraid of groups.
Too many people make it about the competition. You'd think that this was an ESPN forum sometimes as opposed to a forum devoted to the arts. If I'm in a choir, I'm proud of them for performing their hearts out and dedicating themselves to what can be a great art. Sometimes we get to caught up in competition on this site that we don't realize that these are HIGH SCHOOLERS.
To say that Iowa show choirs in general don't compete on the national scene is fairly inaccurate I mean last year Ankeny got 2ndRU at Fame Nationals and won Orlando. And if I remember correctly CR Kennedy won SCN in nashville in 2012 and when I was in Nashville in 2010 their was Johnston and Urbandale and they both did fantastic considering how loaded that contest was. I mean I think we can all tell that Waukee is arguably one of the best show choirs in the country and I have never even seen them live. I think that while competing against top notch choirs across the country is entertaining it is not necessary for you to have a great choir.
Why do that when they save a significant amount of money by not traveling to the big name competitions where Waubonsie and Burbank are? They should not be going to these competitions because "big name" choirs are there, they should be going to national competitions because they are supposed to be a great experience and they get to go to different cities and see different attractions!
Am I the only one who forgets that this is HIGH SCHOOL show choir?
I think show choir should be a combined competitive and fun experience. A lot of these students pay $500+ for show choir and I don't think they devote their money to just have fun. They want to compete and win. I will not pull the "it's a sport" card but we do compete and pay money for "equipment" so it is only natural to want to be the best and prove so. I think sometimes we assume competivite edge and fun cannot be synonymous but they can. Sure we all want to have fun and experience new cities and see new groups, but we also want to create a reputation for our groups and put our money to good use.
I don't know... that John Burroughs show in '08 was very strong vocally! You could be right though, I saw Ankeny twice that season and they would have been fun to see at FAME Chicago that year.
This is something that bothers me about some of the better Iowa groups. I don't see very many of them rushing to the most nationally competitive competitions, whereas choirs like Burbank, Burroughs, Clinton, Waubonsie, Wheaton etc seem anxious to get to the most reputable competitions they can. I know there have been big competitions with Iowa choirs, I just don't see the most competitive Iowa choirs seeking them out on a regular basis. I believe Iowa choirs can compete with these groups! I can imagine there are several reasons for this, but it would be refreshing to see a big Iowa choir (**WAUKEE**) deliberately throw themselves into the thick of a big, nationally prominent competition.
Why do that when they save a significant amount of money by not traveling to the big name competitions where Waubonsie and Burbank are? They should not be going to these competitions because "big name" choirs are there, they should be going to national competitions because they are supposed to be a great experience and they get to go to different cities and see different attractions!
Am I the only one who forgets that this is HIGH SCHOOL show choir?
I wanted Ankeny to go to that FAME Chicago so bad!!! I still feel they would've won with vocals.
Best Female Soloist in prep from CR Washington was Faith Brooks.
*edit* I know Waukee was in first in all categories from all judges in day round. I can't remember the finals rankings. The composite sheet was very complicated, with lots of numbers, and it was a long day I know IC West and CR Washington were separated by 2 ranking points, with 3 judges preferring IC West and 3 Wash.
I don't know... that John Burroughs show in '08 was very strong vocally! You could be right though, I saw Ankeny twice that season and they would have been fun to see at FAME Chicago that year.
This is something that bothers me about some of the better Iowa groups. I don't see very many of them rushing to the most nationally competitive competitions, whereas choirs like Burbank, Burroughs, Clinton, Waubonsie, Wheaton etc seem anxious to get to the most reputable competitions they can. I know there have been big competitions with Iowa choirs, I just don't see the most competitive Iowa choirs seeking them out on a regular basis. I believe Iowa choirs can compete with these groups! I can imagine there are several reasons for this, but it would be refreshing to see a big Iowa choir (**WAUKEE**) deliberately throw themselves into the thick of a big, nationally prominent competition.
I totally agree. I want another FAME Chicago 2008! Let's put Waukee against WV Sound Check, Wheaton, John Burroughs, and Clinton!
I wanted Ankeny to go to that FAME Chicago so bad!!! I still feel they would've won with vocals.
Best Female Soloist in prep from CR Washington was Faith Brooks.
*edit* I know Waukee was in first in all categories from all judges in day round. I can't remember the finals rankings. The composite sheet was very complicated, with lots of numbers, and it was a long day I know IC West and CR Washington were separated by 2 ranking points, with 3 judges preferring IC West and 3 Wash.
...maybe we saw that the link got posted the night before and maybe we all voted for like seven hours then, and during the whole bus ride, and maybe Nate Smith voted over 400 times, and some of our members and alumni voted thousands of times each...
maybe...
That's hilarious! My little sister is in Ignition and she said she voted at least 50 times. Did they actually have a trophy for it?
Anyone have rankings?
I'm still waiting to hear back on a few of my sources on it. I hope somebody beats me to it because I'd really like to know, but if I hear back first I'll get them up here right away.
My guess, based on what I saw (I was parked in the gym pretty much all day) would be that Waukee was each judge's number 1 choice. I heard that points during the day had Waukee in first by quite a bit. I also felt that Washington and Pella were probably firmly in their spots.
2nd through 4th seemed completely up for grabs. I heard that the points between these places were VERY close, and I'm not surprised because Iowa City, West, and Valley were all very comparable. I would guess that each group got at least a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place vote.
I could be wrong of course! I'll get the rankings up as soon as I hear, but somebody please beat me to it!
...maybe we saw that the link got posted the night before and maybe we all voted for like seven hours then, and during the whole bus ride, and maybe Nate Smith voted over 400 times, and some of our members and alumni voted thousands of times each...
Benton Touch Of Class 2014
I know IC West and CR Washington were separated by 2 ranking points, with 3 judges preferring IC West and 3 Wash.