It may seem like the 2021 season (if you even had one) has been over for a while now and for some maybe it has, but this SCVA Spectacular marked the official end of this wild and unpredictable show choir season that can really be defined by perseverance. I have a feeling that 5-10 or more years from now, folks will look back at the SCC database and the 2021 season will be a really unusual and unique moment in the larger show choir history.
Anywho, I caught a good amount of show choir this year (since there weren't any weekends with 30+ events *cough end of February, first week of March*). Seeing Indiana and Ohio have in-person competitions, the many virtual events like Simmons massive competition, the various non-competitive festival performances that choirs did, and amazing artistry like Linn-Mar and Ankeny Centennial's "The Giver" production. This season truly threw out the rule book for show choir and I think the results were spectacular.
The SoCal Series is included in that. I watched bits and pieces of the shows from the earlier events (Burroughs, Oceanside, and Hart), but I watched every Mixed Tier I and Tier II show at this SCVA finale. Holy crap, there were some really lovely shows. The directors and staff behind the scenes who put their heads together and created this Series so that the kids had opportunities deserve a ton of credit. I think those folks are the directors of the host schools (Brendan Jennings, Leah Ritt, and Sarah Anders), but there certainly could be more that I just don't know about. For example while I was watching the Twitch stream for the SCVA Spectacular, I kept hearing a few of the same names - Amanda Richardson, Dominic Matas, and Susia Ruddell. Not only do these individuals direct/choreograph a handful of the groups, but it also sounds like they were the foundation for a lot of the video production and editing in order to create the stellar productions and overall stream for the Series. And not just piece together videos, but produce show choir in a different medium than we're used to with these virtual sets. I was blown away by the overall quality. I'm sure Amanda, Dominic, and Susia aren't the only ones, but they certainly did a lot for the schools they work with which helped keep show choir alive this year. Massive gratitude for them.
As for the shows, if folks weren't aware, this SCVA Spectacular featured the FULL SHOWS for these choirs. I would 10/10 recommend to view them. Below are the Tier I/II choir themes or show concepts so you can skip around if you'd like. Personally, I was in awe at the musicality and artistry of both Hart Sound Vibes and Burroughs Powerhouse. I also really enjoyed Carlsbad Sound Express, Burroughs Sound Waves, and Los Altos Prestige. Really amazing shows. There were not only the top notch vocals and visuals you'd expect, but also a lot of humor in the shows which was really appreciated in a season like this.
Lastly in terms of the event page here, the only "caption award" I believe that they did at this finale was the Fan Favorite award which was a culmination of voting throughout the entire SoCal Series. Those choirs are all noted with the exception of Mixed Tier I - Medina "Encore Entertainment Company" received that award as they performed in the earlier Burroughs Showcase event. They also decided to award one Director's Choice Award to Mt. Eden's show choirs. I'm not sure of the full backstory, but someone else is welcome to shine the spotlight on Mt. Eden. From what I gathered, they were primarily a student-run show choir program this year.
Mixed Tier I
Carroll - Unstoppable Force (Batman/Joker)
John Hersey - Simply The Best (Greatest Hits)
SF Roosevelt - Born To Lead
Chaparral - Pirates
Carlsbad - Game Shows
Mt. Eden - The Twilight Zone
Diamond Bar - Wreck-It Ralph
Hart - Art Exhibit
John Burroughs - Tom Thumb & the Game of Hide and Seek
Mixed Tier II
Serrano - A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Pacifica - Scooby Doo
John A Rowland - Social Change
Walsh Jesuit - Stand Up
Helix - Some Nights/Sound of Silence
Martinsburg - Golden Days
Carlsbad - Revolution Earth
La Cueva - Stranger Things & The Office
John Burroughs Sound Waves - Dear John Hughes (80’s Movies)
Oceanside - A Day At The Park (Disneyland/Six Flags)
Hart - Hart’s Kitchen
Los Altos - Twilight
Southern California Vocal Association Show Choir Spectacular 2021
Below are the Tier I/II choir themes or show concepts so you can skip around if you'd like. Personally, I was in awe at the musicality and artistry of both Hart Sound Vibes and Burroughs Powerhouse. I also really enjoyed Carlsbad Sound Express, Burroughs Sound Waves, and Los Altos Prestige. Really amazing shows. There were not only the top notch vocals and visuals you'd expect, but also a lot of humor in the shows which was really appreciated in a season like this.