I attended finals at Viterbo after watching daytime competition at Onalaska. Seeing that I came to Wisconsin/Iowa in large part to see Totino-Grace live this season, it was more than slightly depressing to have them place seventh. Much has already been said on this topic, and I have little new to add, but it must be reiterated that it was very disappointing to hear from everyone who said anything on the matter that it was a gross oversight for Totino to not place higher.
Overall, Viterbo was a disappointing competition where no one choir seemed to take the next step to really claim the championship title. Some choirs were certainly more polished than others, but on the whole I would only enjoy watching half of the finalists' shows another time. Following are my thoughts on the groups I saw.
Linn Mar:
This is a group that I have wanted to see live for some time. Watching past shows online, I have never enjoyed the show design and think the choreography is some of April James's strangest work. However Linn Mar always seems to sing beautifully and I respect the level of their musicianship. I thought that perhaps seeing Linn Mar in person may reveal some aspect to their shows that I've been missing, but I found the group just as aesthetically displeasing in person as online.
I understand their winning the competition, and do think they deserved to place within the top two, but with their exceedingly strange costuming and movement I can not like any of what they presented. Maybe there are those out there to whom a Linn Mar set makes sense, I'm just not one of those people.
Johnston:
This group presented a great diversity of material. Much like Cedar Rapids Xavier at Onalaska, most of it worked while none of it made sense strung together. Also like Cedar Rapids Xavier, the group has reached a high level of performance for this early point in the season and will probably go on to be very successful. Johnston gave the best ballad performance at Viterbo and overall gave Linn Mar a good challenge for the vocal caption, but they were also one of the least clean groups in finals and I wasn't surprised to see them place second to Linn Mar.
Hastings:
Performing the most entertaining show at Viterbo finals, Hastings was a very easy choir to sit back and enjoy. I'd also say they were the one group with the best combination of vocal and movement elements, and considering how very clean they were the choreography caption was well deserved. The issue I took with Hastings set was that it was almost too polished. By that, I mean that it seemed the group could have been more ambitious. The show was fun and I was entertained from start to finish, but it only hit on one level and I did not feel that it had much room to grow through the season.
Waconia:
Watching Waconia live for the first time, it seemed to me that they strive to be a fun choir. They want to be the group that makes you stand up and cheer after their set, that puts a smile on your face for the rest of the evening. There is definitely nothing wrong with that, and certainly if they'd accomplished that goal I might be a big fan, but I felt they lacked musicality.
Though their show was more entertaining and made a bigger impact than those of choirs they placed above, I felt the lack of a healthy, stable core of sound hurt this group and ultimately placed them firmly in sixth. Of course the judges disagreed, and with such confident presentation and a good band I can understand why, but I would have liked to hear something more choral from this group.
Milton:
I felt Milton suffered from the same problems that Waconia had. The show was clean and the performers were appropriately upbeat, but I noticed intonation issues throughout the set that distracted from the good things happening on stage. I did hear from others that Milton's daytime performance was better than their finals show, so I hope in the future they may keep up the energy and precision throughout an entire day's competition.
Cedar Rapids Prairie:
Seemingly the most elusive of the Cedar Rapids groups, I was curious to see Prairie live for the first time. I recalled that they had a very successful start to their season last year and wondered if they'd prove to be an early season favorite again. Watching their finals performance I felt they sang reasonably well - definitely better than their placement would infer - but the show aspect of their set was largely disappointing. The various numbers felt pieced together, and the introduction to "The Morning After" was very very strange.
QUOTE(MargauxLOVESyou! @ Jan 12 2009, 11:02 AM) 445671
No comment? Ah ok
I don't really know. The show just didn't go anywhere for me. I wasn't a fan of the songs. I also think everything needs to be a bit more polished. Vocals were in and out and the choreography was energized but not clean. I'm not sure as to why you placed above Milton, because overall, they just excelled more in all the appropriate areas. You guys performed last, and I just wasn't invested. I feel like Waconia always has a slow start to their season. Obviously that wasn't the case since you made finals and were pretty high in the day. You'll have a good season, I'm just not a big fan of the show.
Totino, I have to say that I believe you should've been in finals. I enjoyed your show and for no reason could I think you didn't deserve to be there. However, unexpected things happen in show choir and your group has to maintain a positive attitude. Also, I was almost offended that you reacted the way you did. Yes, it is true that most people believed you should be in the top six after the afternoon performances, but I also heard someone saying that the girls were already recurling their hair and getting ready, among other things, before awards were even announced. This shows a cocky, "We're better than you" attitude that I am not impressed with. I am sorry you didn't make it into finals, but congrats on your placing. You did an amazing job. Just remember that your actions and words are seen and heard by many other people than the ones in your group. I can't wait to see you perform again.
Congrats to everyone! Great job this weekend and good luck at future compeitions.
I don't know how long you have been aound show choir and Totino Grace but the one thing that sticks out to me is how their hair looks every year. Just because girls go recurl their hair, in hopes of making finals, doesn't mean they expect it. I personally can not speak on behalf of a girl being in show choir, but being around it for awhile, it requires a bit more... upkeep.
1st order of business...It's pronounced Vih-TUR-Boh. ;)
Linn-Mar-- As always, congratulations on a good start to the year. Vocally, amazing, as always. To be truely, completely honest, however, I found your choreography to be kind of weak and boring. The good news about that--there is still time to energize it! You will succeed this year if you can make the show more interesting! Good luck with the rest of the season!
Johnston-- Personally, I liked your show. I thought your vocals were top-notch, but sometimes diction was a problem...I couldn't understand what you were singing. The difference from Prelims to finals was astounding. Good job! I would suggest cleaning up some choreo in the first 2 numbers especially--they are Todd choreography, correct? It looks a lot like what he would do. His choreography, in my opinion, is some of the most difficult...pull it off and you will rock hardcore!
Hastings-- I had you in first in the day round. The combination of your power vocals and difficult, but well-executed choreography kept me wanting more. Watch out for "Positoovity"--the vocals didn't get off stage. I think your problem was that it could have been played to the balcony moreso than it was. You will do well this year!
Milton-- Improved leaps-and-bounds from last year! Vocally it was more balanced, and the set was not as perplexing or confusing as last year (Love, fire, America???). Good novelty (I personally dislike novelties at all, but nice way to handle it). Keep working...there's a lot to do...but you can (and will) be all-stars!
Waconia-- First of all, I loved the ballad. "Orphans of God" is one of my FAVORITE ballads ever. I think that Warren took that song above and beyond what you did with it...but it's early in the year, and if you truely work on singing it perfectly, you will score big time. Stop cleaning the choreograpy...it's definitely clean. Vocals are what will take you to the top.
CR Prairie-- Honestly, I don't remember a lot about your show. I remember good, but not extraordinary, vocals and clean choreography. I suppose this means that you need to do something specatular to set your show apart from all others...don't drown in the powerhouse city that is Cedar Rapids...if you can stay afloat, you will make a name for yourselves as a top-tier candidate for Grand Champion.
I just wanted to thank you personally and everyone else for your positive feedback and critisizm!! We all couldn't agree more with you about the vocals on positoovity!! It is almost a blick because we have spent the last week attempting to punch them up but people get so caught up in the crazyness of the song. lol. Just another thanks and we are glad that people liked our show!!
QUOTE(sunglasses_chic08 @ Jan 11 2009, 10:02 PM) 445602
Lol of course you made finals You had a solid show and you're also one of those groups who consistently makes finals. Oh, and Company loves you, so of course we were cheering for you
AAHHH!! And hastings sooo loves you guys, Katy!! You will always have your lil Martin out there rootin for you like crazy!!! I talked to some people before finals and we just went out and performed crazy for you guys!!!
QUOTE(weinzettelRC @ Jan 11 2009, 09:45 PM) 445597
hahahaha. all i have to say is people analyse these things WAY too much.
People have already written a lot so I wont
shocked just like everyone that:
totino didnt make finals
milton didnt win WE made fianls!!! (?)
milton got 5th hm?
everything was so jumbled and random at viterbo. it was all up in the air.
it was an amazing start to the season.
I loved EVERY single group I watched. WOW!!!!
thanks everyone!!!
Lol of course you made finals You had a solid show and you're also one of those groups who consistently makes finals. Oh, and Company loves you, so of course we were cheering for you
hahahaha. all i have to say is people analyse these things WAY too much.
People have already written a lot so I wont
shocked just like everyone that:
totino didnt make finals
milton didnt win
WE made fianls!!! (?)
milton got 5th hm?
everything was so jumbled and random at viterbo. it was all up in the air.
it was an amazing start to the season.
I loved EVERY single group I watched. WOW!!!!
And furthermore, I think April did a lot of quality work with our group this year, seeing that it was a drastic change from Mike Weaver to April.
Just my opinion.
NOTHING will stop Totino from doing their best. Not Viterbo results, not opinions of other people, and not even 3 1/2 inch heals for the opener. Ain't nothin gonna break our stride.
Okay..Im sorry if I sounded harsh on Totino...I had no intentions of doing so. As I said "it pains me to say this." I love Totino...always have. Some of my fave show choir moments in history are from Company. In response to what defines a Totino show...I have no idea. But every show choir has a style, an aura...whether that's created because of tradition, because of a director, a choreographer...I can't answer that exactly...maybe a combination of the 3? But I am so used to Mike doing Company's choreography, that seeing April's "armography" was just so not what I was expecting. It will be a huge adjustment for me...partly because I'm just not a fan of April James. That was not the reason I had Totino down in 6th during the day. I judged it based on the choreography they were given, not because of whose choreo it was. And I really truly hope that Viterbo doesn't get Totino down. I think they just didn't quite perform that show up to it's potential...and as we all know..Totino potential is HUGE. I wish Company the best of luck the rest of the season, and again I apologize for any misunderstandings.
Now...just an answer to the judging question raised earlier...the guy from Platteville is Bob Demaree.
QUOTE(sunglasses_chic08 @ Jan 11 2009, 05:24 PM) 445532
How is Viterbo pronounced? Lol its "vih-tur-boh" ;)
Me, Wes, and John were up in the Balcony in the 1st center row starting right after lunch break. We were writing down our observations of each group and giving them rough rankings in Vocals, Choreo, Band, and Show Design on the laptop. Though we disagreed slightly, here were my results going into Awards for the Daytime:
1. Milton
2. Totino
3. Hastings
4. Linn Mar
5. Johnston
6. Cedar Rapids Prairie
Those were my rankings except Hastings and Totino flipflop.
Totally random side note: way to keep it together, to the girl whose shoe came flying off in finals (I think it was during Johnston's show). I was extremely surprised when those girls walked on stage in heels without ankle straps, and my first thought was, "Those shoes are going to come off." They're super cute though!
I wasn't there to witness it, but I know they have strapless heels for their closer "swing with me baby", so it could have easily been kicked off on a flip or kick or something.
1st order of business...It's pronounced Vih-TUR-Boh. ;)
Linn-Mar-- As always, congratulations on a good start to the year. Vocally, amazing, as always. To be truely, completely honest, however, I found your choreography to be kind of weak and boring. The good news about that--there is still time to energize it! You will succeed this year if you can make the show more interesting! Good luck with the rest of the season!
Johnston-- Personally, I liked your show. I thought your vocals were top-notch, but sometimes diction was a problem...I couldn't understand what you were singing. The difference from Prelims to finals was astounding. Good job! I would suggest cleaning up some choreo in the first 2 numbers especially--they are Todd choreography, correct? It looks a lot like what he would do. His choreography, in my opinion, is some of the most difficult...pull it off and you will rock hardcore!
Hastings-- I had you in first in the day round. The combination of your power vocals and difficult, but well-executed choreography kept me wanting more. Watch out for "Positoovity"--the vocals didn't get off stage. I think your problem was that it could have been played to the balcony moreso than it was. You will do well this year!
Milton-- Improved leaps-and-bounds from last year! Vocally it was more balanced, and the set was not as perplexing or confusing as last year (Love, fire, America???). Good novelty (I personally dislike novelties at all, but nice way to handle it). Keep working...there's a lot to do...but you can (and will) be all-stars!
Waconia-- First of all, I loved the ballad. "Orphans of God" is one of my FAVORITE ballads ever. I think that Warren took that song above and beyond what you did with it...but it's early in the year, and if you truely work on singing it perfectly, you will score big time. Stop cleaning the choreograpy...it's definitely clean. Vocals are what will take you to the top.
CR Prairie-- Honestly, I don't remember a lot about your show. I remember good, but not extraordinary, vocals and clean choreography. I suppose this means that you need to do something specatular to set your show apart from all others...don't drown in the powerhouse city that is Cedar Rapids...if you can stay afloat, you will make a name for yourselves as a top-tier candidate for Grand Champion.
Thanks for the comments
And CONGRATS To all the participants this year! I'll have to look for Johnson's soloist later because I didn't get to see/hear him and heard he was amazing!! " border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />
1st order of business...It's pronounced Vih-TUR-Boh. ;)
Linn-Mar-- As always, congratulations on a good start to the year. Vocally, amazing, as always. To be truely, completely honest, however, I found your choreography to be kind of weak and boring. The good news about that--there is still time to energize it! You will succeed this year if you can make the show more interesting! Good luck with the rest of the season!
Johnston-- Personally, I liked your show. I thought your vocals were top-notch, but sometimes diction was a problem...I couldn't understand what you were singing. The difference from Prelims to finals was astounding. Good job! I would suggest cleaning up some choreo in the first 2 numbers especially--they are Todd choreography, correct? It looks a lot like what he would do. His choreography, in my opinion, is some of the most difficult...pull it off and you will rock hardcore!
Hastings-- I had you in first in the day round. The combination of your power vocals and difficult, but well-executed choreography kept me wanting more. Watch out for "Positoovity"--the vocals didn't get off stage. I think your problem was that it could have been played to the balcony moreso than it was. You will do well this year!
Milton-- Improved leaps-and-bounds from last year! Vocally it was more balanced, and the set was not as perplexing or confusing as last year (Love, fire, America???). Good novelty (I personally dislike novelties at all, but nice way to handle it). Keep working...there's a lot to do...but you can (and will) be all-stars!
Waconia-- First of all, I loved the ballad. "Orphans of God" is one of my FAVORITE ballads ever. I think that Warren took that song above and beyond what you did with it...but it's early in the year, and if you truely work on singing it perfectly, you will score big time. Stop cleaning the choreograpy...it's definitely clean. Vocals are what will take you to the top.
CR Prairie-- Honestly, I don't remember a lot about your show. I remember good, but not extraordinary, vocals and clean choreography. I suppose this means that you need to do something specatular to set your show apart from all others...don't drown in the powerhouse city that is Cedar Rapids...if you can stay afloat, you will make a name for yourselves as a top-tier candidate for Grand Champion.
Yes, it is true that most people believed you should be in the top six after the afternoon performances, but I also heard someone saying that the girls were already recurling their hair and getting ready, among other things, before awards were even announced. This shows a cocky, "We're better than you" attitude that I am not impressed with.
As the director of a group that has missed only one finals round in over a decade, I have learned that you never know how much time you have to prepare for your finals performance. Particularly if your group performs late in the day and is drawn to go first in the finals...there just isn't a lot of time. My instructions to Happiness after a preliminary performance are to immediately reset everything after their day show in case they perform at night, and to be prepared to perform first in finals. If a group makes the finals in the vast majority of their competitions, having the kids be prepared for that performance is not "cocky," it is necessary. Groups like Totino who have proven through year after year of outstanding show that they are more likely than not going to be in the finals operate under the assumption that they will be there. That's what champions do...think like champions. And then there is the old Boy Scout motto, "Be Prepared!" I can't speak to any comments that may have been said, but the fact that a girl is curling her hair in preparation for another performance shows responsibility and dedication to her group, IMHO.
Viterbo 101 2009
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You had a solid show and you're also one of those groups who consistently makes finals. Oh, and Company loves you, so of course we were cheering for you 
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