Every group gave a wonderful performance especially since most of the groups hadn't competed in over a month (some even more). Omaha South had a cool spy themed show. Bellevue East has improved so much over the years and I think that if they keep on this streak of great singing and energy, they will do great things in the future. I didn't get to see Omaha North or Omaha Northwest but heard wonderful things about their show.
Millard West's show looked and sounded just as spectacular as they did when I saw them last ay Westside. I love the direction that WIG has turned now that Mr. Bjornsen has taken over. It also said in the program that Millard West plans to travel out to Grand River for the 2015 season! That'll certainly be a treat to see how they do out there. Burke was impressive for a lesser known group and for a group with only 24 people. Millard North was awesome and their band sounded spectacular in that venue. Papio's acapella group was a pleasure to hear as well. Westside's performance was just as vocally strong as when they were at Wheaton.
Overall, there were slight mishaps here and there, but every choir performed at a great level for this point in the season. My director said that she was informed that about 1,000 people filed in and out throughout the course of the afternoon which is a great turnout considering that this is this event's first year in existence.
I was talking with some friends and we suggested that the Holland host a shoe choir competition. We said that they could combine elements of competitions like Great River where multiple schools could host. They could also take after the Midwest Cup in the overall design of the competition and how the venue is used to its potential. There would be a few kinks to iron out if it were to happen, but the Holland has a fabulous sound system and the lighting guys did a great job adapting lights to each show and each song's mood. The sound system was amazing because it picked up the choirs' sound as a whole instead of individual voices and magnified it to fit the entire space. Also, the Holland was designed to be a concert hall for choirs and bands, so I think that the use of the venue for a competition would be mutually beneficial for competing choirs and for the Holland.
Metro Magic is a new idea formed by four choir directors in the Omaha metro area. It's intent is to bring together jazz/show choirs from every high school in the Omaha area to showcase each school's vocal music talent. It's actually pretty similar to Cedar Rapids' "Fab Five" concert. Metro Magic will take place at the Holland Performing Arts Center this Sunday, April 27th starting at 2 p.m. Tickets are five dollars and can be bought at the door. Westside "ATSC" and Papillion South "Titanium will be "hosting" the festival this weekend. Unfortunately, not every school in the Omaha area is being represented due to scheduling conflicts, etc. So, here is a schedule for anyone who might be interested in spending an afternoon watching some local talent!
2:00 Bellevue East "Take II"
2:25 Omaha South "The Ambassadors"
2:50 Omaha Northwest "Studio Singers"
3:15 Omaha North "Explosion!"
3:40 Papillion-La Vista South "Titanium"
Break
4:30 Millard West "West in the Groove"
4:55 Omaha Burke "Burke Ensemble"
5:20 Millard North "Infinity"
5:45 Papillion-La Vista "Ardente Voce" (Jazz Choir)
6:10 Westside "Amazing Technicolor Show Choir"
Omaha Metro Magic 2014
