And I wonder if Esser would have done the same thing with Mt. Zion still in finals.
I wouldn't have let MTZ go last if I were him, but I'm not Although as we saw last year, sometimes letting your biggest competition go right before you doesn't help your cause, especially if they have a killer show.
TG competed at Onalaska in 2008 (the year of the great puppet fiasco) and I seem to recall MTZ was penalized that year too... don't remember the placements or finals outcome...
Well at Kennedy last year, Steve Woodin chose first and decided to perform last.
And I wonder if Esser would have done the same thing with Mt. Zion still in finals.
I've heard that almost verbatim from Steve Woodin...Interesting that both directors of beast-like programs have the same philosophies.
Well at Kennedy last year, Steve Woodin chose first and decided to perform last.
Agreed. I heard from an alum that Mr. Esser likes to go 4th because it is late enough for the kids to rest a bit and eat dinner before performing, but early enough that they can pack up and be ready to leave right after final awards. Interesting choice, but hey if it works for them.
I've heard that almost verbatim from Steve Woodin...Interesting that both directors of beast-like programs have the same philosophies.
I like random as well, though history has certainly been kinder to groups who perform later. I find it interesting that GCS chose to perform in the middle; it's a cool choice that definitely would have made for a more exciting finals for me personally.
Agreed. I heard from an alum that Mr. Esser likes to go 4th because it is late enough for the kids to rest a bit and eat dinner before performing, but early enough that they can pack up and be ready to leave right after final awards. Interesting choice, but hey if it works for them.
A lot of competitions in this area of the country are doing it this way now. I think it's fun when groups don't go in backward order, sometimes it's kinda lame because it makes finals more obvious. Each group usually is better than the last. I personally prefer a random finals because I think it makes it more exciting and more "unknown"
I like random as well, though history has certainly been kinder to groups who perform later. I find it interesting that GCS chose to perform in the middle; it's a cool choice that definitely would have made for a more exciting finals for me personally.
A lot of competitions in this area of the country are doing it this way now. I think it's fun when groups don't go in backward order, sometimes it's kinda lame because it makes finals more obvious. Each group usually is better than the last. I personally prefer a random finals because I think it makes it more exciting and more "unknown"
Order of finalists was chosen by each school with GCS getting first choice for first place, Prairie chose next, and so forth.
That's a cool way to do it.
I don't know if anyone had already mentioned this or if anyone would know, but does anyone know where Mt. Zion was placed in prelims before the time penalty?
Without the time penalty they would have been in 2nd place behind GCS.
I don't know if anyone had already mentioned this or if anyone would know, but does anyone know where Mt. Zion was placed in prelims before the time penalty?
I thought I remember one of the years in the recent past that the time overage point deductions were applied to Mt. Zion - resulting in them placing 4th or 5th in prelims (but really with the 1st or 2nd raw score) - and then, with no time penalty in finals, they ended up winning. Does anyone else remember this?
That was 2009 wasn't it? They finished 5th I think in prelims. Then in finals the time penalty wasn't in effect so they placed first. That was also the year that Sioux City east had their huge monster set, that took awhile to set up too.
Chippewa Falls "Chi-Hi Harmonics"
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
With A Little Help From My Friends
The Long And Winding Road/Golden Slumbers
Come Together
Get Back/Back In The U.S.S.R.
Holmen "Midwest Express"
Save The People Medley
Broken Wings
Revolution
Astonishing
Listen To The People
La Crosse Logan "The Class Act"
Big City Lights
Havana/Never Dance
Part Of Your World/A Whole New World
California Girls (medley)
Surf's Up
All Night Long
La Crosse Central "Grand Central Station"
Hit You With The Real Thing
Show Choir Life Parody
Nothing To Lose
Who Do You Think You Are
Dirty Pop
Famous/I Want It All
Sauk Prairie "Executive Session" *Jesus Christ, Superstar*
Hosanna, What's The Buzz
Heaven On Their Minds
Everyone's Alright
Herod's Song
I Don't Know How To Love Him
Superstar
Neenah "Vintage"
A New Divide
Ripple In The Water
I Will Be
Dance Your Life Away/Just Be Free
Dance Into The Light
Cedar Rapids Prairie "The Ambassadors"
That Was Then, This Is Now
Burnin' Love
The Story Goes On
Stray Cat Strut
Rock This Town!
This Cat's On A Hot Tin Roof
Monona Grove "Silver Connection"
A New World/Rocket Man
Princes Of The Universe
Moondance/Fly Me To The Moon
Starlight
Space Cowboy
Mt. Zion "Swingsations"
Waka Waka/All Night Long
If I'm Any Closer
Gone Without Goodbye
Magic Medley
So Obvious
Onalaska "The Hilltoppers" *Heroes and Villains"
Save The Hero
Hero
Angels/Heroes Live Forever
Villains
The Other Side
I had a fantastic time at Onalaska on Saturday. It was a really great day with a lot of great shows! I was only there for the day round because I headed to Viterbo for finals. Congrats to all performing choirs!!!
First of all, I have to say I agree with the results.
GCS...you were fantastic. I really enjoyed the show! There is something just so special about what you do. You have the entire package and the show just flows brilliantly. It is so well put together and designed, not to mention the fantastic choreography! Kuddos to the choir, band, crew, Esser, Weaver, and all involved. You truly are something special. And Robed Choir was just stunning on Friday night. I have always been blown away by Robed Choir but I was just in awe on Friday night. MLK was so moving and special. The dancers were brilliant. I cannot imagine hearing a better high school choir than Robed Choir...
Mt. Zion you had a really fantastic day round show!!! Choreographically brilliant as usual. And I thought the vocals were pretty nice this year as well. And your opening dresses were beautiful...one of my favs of all time. The time penalty was really unfortunate...but I am proud of Chad and the Onalaska crew for enforcing the rules they have established. Because, like others have mentioned and hinted at, something like this might have been overlooked in the past. Personally I believe time penalties are stupid. They have nothing to do with music education and the overall success of a choir. Plus the best 6 groups were not in the finals...which is unfortunate. That being said, with Onalaska having that rule, I am glad they enforced it. Without the time penalty, I really thought you would end up in 2nd and possibly receive best choreography. Good luck to you with the rest of your season...I am sure you will experience a ton of success!!!
Cedar Rapids Prairie - I can't believe it, but that was the first time I have ever seen one of your shows live. You have a super fun show..it was very enjoyable to watch and very entertaining. Mike's choreography is awesome and you sang very well. I hope you have an awesome season.
Sauk Prairie - I was really entertained by your show this year! Your commitment is fantastic and I enjoyed your choreography this year! The best part of your show was the energy. Everything you did was done with so much energy and conviction which makes it really entertaining and fun for the audience. Congrats to you for doing what you do. Always appreciated.
I had not seen Logan, Monona Grove, Neenah, Holmen, and Chippewa Falls for a very long time and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by all of their performances. You all have really improved in the past few years! You all were very well prepared and well rehearsed for this super early competition. Congrats to all of you and I wish you all the best this season.
Well there was a completely new judging panel this year. Not an SCA panel like usual, so maybe they stopped showing favoritism and actually went off the rules? Just an opinion, not a fact.
Also not big into time penalties. We don't have them at Mo-Show and things have always run on time.
I'm really surprised that they actually applied the DQ points towards the final prelims score. I can remember personally timing Mt. Zion at an Onalaska "Classic" in the past, they went over two minutes from the time the parent on the side said "Go!" to the performers to the last person stepping off the stage. They didn't receive DQ points that year.
Its sad. I'm not really much for time penalties of epic proportions.
Well there was a completely new judging panel this year. Not an SCA panel like usual, so maybe they stopped showing favoritism and actually went off the rules? Just an opinion, not a fact.
Also not big into time penalties. We don't have them at Mo-Show and things have always run on time.
Onalaska Show Choir Classic 2011
Although as we saw last year, sometimes letting your biggest competition go right before you doesn't help your cause, especially if they have a killer show.
