Class 3A:
1st -- Anamosa Sadie Street Singers
2nd -- Carroll Swingsations
3rd -- Norris Gold
Class 4A:
1st -- Urbandale Studio 2007
2nd -- Cedar Rapids Jefferson Westside Delegation
3rd -- Iowa City West Good Time Company
4th -- Waukee Millennium
5th -- Bloomington Jefferson Connection
6th -- West Des Moines Valley Choralation
Finals:
Grand Champion -- Urbandale Studio 2007 (Best Band, Best Vocals, Best Show)
1st Runner-Up -- Waukee Millennium
2nd Runner-Up -- Cedar Rapids Jefferson Westside Delegation
3rd Runner-Up -- Iowa City West Good Time Company
4th Runner-Up -- Bloomington Jefferson Connection
5th Runner-Up -- West Des Moines Valley Choralation
Do you know the results from middle school and prep? Also, what about best soloists?
There was some confusion about Best Female Soloist. It ended up being Alex Beem from Valley HS Choralation for her solo/duet in "I Don't Wanna Go". We're all very excited for Alex!
Cedar Rapids: oh my gosh! just wanted to say that your show was stunning! everyone was trying to figure out where your hats came from! and Id love to know who you work with for costuming beacuse they were all gorgeous , especially the teal ones used in the opener
Thanks Ill spread that ot my brother whos in the group, but actually every outfit they wear is made by the moms! It's pretty cool how they make everything! but yeah they dont really work with anyone other than the choregrapher and the director!
I saw a post earlier that Waukee's opener was a former GCS number, but I think Souled Out was a former Totino-Grace opener, not one that GCS did. And Chance was from Mt. Zion, not Totino-Grace.
Whoops. That's what I get for not double-checking my soloist names before I post...
Way to start out the season! I knew you would break the "5th Runner-Up Curse" earlier this year. You're such a great group of kids, and I know you'll take the suggestions of the judges and come back even stronger next time.
Urbandale, awesome work! Congrats on your well-deserved recognition. You make me very proud! To Waconia, keep plugging away and your year will still be fantastic. God Bless, Damon Brown
Iowa City West isn't an established program? They were the first Iowa show choir anyone oustide of that state had heard of, and a real national contender in the early 1980s.
I remember seeing an old Bishop Luers tape with them on it from that era. And - to totally relate how old I am as well - I remember them winning Urbandale in 1992 when I was in h.s. Sadly - after that year, they sort of fell off the map, and it's really only been recently that I can remember them really being a contender again. They may have been an established program once upon a time - but they've had to totally rebuild that after being away from the scene for a while - and by all accounts, they're succeeding!
Iowa City West ... never been a real threat to established programs. This year looks like it will be the breaking-through point for the group.
Iowa City West isn't an established program? They were the first Iowa show choir anyone oustide of that state had heard of, and a real national contender in the early 1980s.
Souled Out
Ballin' the Jack
If I Had My Way
Real Deal
Hung-Up
Throw Your Hands Up
I saw a post earlier that Waukee's opener was a former GCS number, but I think Souled Out was a former Totino-Grace opener, not one that GCS did. And Chance was from Mt. Zion, not Totino-Grace.
Waukee placing second isn't a surprise to me. Seeing their show last year, you could just tell that there was something about them, that some day they would be a force to reckon with. Well, that day was apparently yesterday!
Congrats to Urbandale... from talking to certain people at Milton with connections at Johnston's competition... there was no debate that Urbandale was the best!
What was Waukee's show?
Waukee's show was as follows:
Souled Out
Ballin' the Jack
If I Had My Way
Real Deal
Hung-Up
Throw Your Hands Up
Additionally, I would strongly disagree with your opinion about Millennium last year. Frankly, I drew parallels between the Waukee of old and the Iowa City West of old- both groups that could sing very well but were not especially good at performing as a show choir. Personally, I am convinced that the catalyst at Waukee was the arrival of Matt Huth this summer. He is the choral director at the middle school, but directs Millennium along with Ryan Beeken. Mr. Huth is a highly effective show choir director, and he took the good vocal talent that was already there and helped them become a talented show choir. As I said to their student teacher and a few of the performers, I don't think I have ever seen such a massive increase of talent in a show choir in just one year. They are at a totally different level now than they were 12 months ago.
As long as I'm doing so, I'll also disagree about Urbandale being the 'undebatable' best. Yes, they won fairly handily. They also had in finals one of the cleanest performances I've ever seen. I wouldn't go so far as to say I don't think they should have won, but I will absolutely say that there were three other choirs there that were hot on Urbandale's heels in terms of performance quality. Urbandale is a very, very talented group, but to insinuate that none of the other choirs in the finals at Johnston could rival their ability is a serious fallacy.
That said, a huge congratulations to the J-Hawks on their sweep last night! Congrats also to the other finals contestants. I haven't seen a finals that intense for a long, long time. What a great night of music! It was a good audience, too- they got into every performance in all the right places.
Everybody comments on all the "big" choirs like Urbandale, Waukee, and CR Jefferson, but there were plenty of other groups there that put on admirable performances that deserve mentioning:
Iowa City West did make finals, but they should be mentioned anyway. For the last few years, they have been improving leaps and bounds with every passing year, but have never been a real threat to established programs. This year looks like it will be the breaking-through point for the group. It's not my absolute favorite show, but I did like it quite well. "Rubber Duckie" is an absolute riot- everyone here needs to go out of their way to see it if IC West is at a competition!- and "When You Come Home" is one of my three favorite ballads this year. Adam Bogh does a drop-dead amazing performance on the song. (For those of you who remember Chance, Mt. Zion's soloist on "Letters From War" a few years ago, Adam is along the same lines.) Excellent, excellent, excellent vocal quality.
Norris (from outside Lincoln, NE): I was running around during much of the morning block of choirs, but I did get to see your ballad on TV. I was impressed, so I slipped onto stage right for "Into the Fire". I've never liked that song when I see show choirs using it, but you changed my mind! Great performance, great concept, and they really did look like they had fun doing it.
Bloomington Jefferson was vastly entertaining. "Proud" is gorgeous- I love the way you open your show!- and "I Can't Stand Still" was one of the best individual numbers I saw all day long. (Congrats to the two soloists- you guys are awesome.) A good strong closer in "Stand Out", to finish up a good strong show. I was a bit surprised that the judges didn't like you as well as I had expected, but you still put on a heck of a show at night.
I think Waconia had one of the coolest shows of prelims. It was so much fun to watch, and it was obvious that you liked your show as well. You have a strong, varied lineup of soloists, and your opener and closer were memorable throughout the day. I was sorry to see you get left out of finals; I thought you deserved it. I highly recommend watching Waconia's show if they're at your competition!
My "Hey, wow!" pick of the day is definitely the Carroll "Swingsations". They're a 3A school that I'd never seen before, and boy was I glad I got to see them. They're great in the 3A division, and gave the Sadie Street "4A-In-Disguise" Singers a serious run for their money. The show concept was a little boring at times, but that didn't matter for two reasons:
1) You guys are talented. Wow. For 90% of your show, both your choreography and vocals were simple, but occasionally there would be a short burst that demanded a much higher level of technique, and you flew through every one of those with flying colors! Every single person in your group is a very solid dancer, and your choral sections were strong, healthy and beautiful from start to finish. I am absolutely convinced that you are being held back by your show, and could easily handle much harder material. I hope you get it next year.
2) You had fun. Plain and simple, it was blatantly obvious that you were thrilled out of your mind to get to perform your show. I did not see one other choir all day long that came anywhere near the level of enjoyment you radiated. I know the judges noticed it.
Congratulations, Carroll. You are an unmistakable diamond-in-the-rough. I hope I get to see you a few more times this season, and I also hope that in seasons to come, you get material that gives you a chance to really show off what you can do. Thanks for a great, great show!
QUOTE(GCS_Baritenor07 @ Jan 21 2007, 04:12 PM) 375978
Apparently Homestead is the group that is doing some former GCS stuff this year. Whether that's true or not I have no idea. My information came via text message from the Mt. Zion Invite yesterday haha.
Waukee is as well. I was told about the Johnston invitational having some GCS songs in it yesterday, I knew nothing about Homestead at Mt. Zion.
I had heard at Milton that a lot of GCS stuff was being used. haha I just didn't know what group.
Apparently Homestead is the group that is doing some former GCS stuff this year. Whether that's true or not I have no idea. My information came via text message from the Mt. Zion Invite yesterday haha.
Johnston Showzam 2007
