It appears that not only did Linn Mar sing and dance expertly, they told a story so powerfully that they won a very difficult competition against many other groups doing the same. Kudos to them. Kudos to all groups doing all styles of shows.
The moment we start dismissing one style in favor of another, we lose sight of what makes show choir so special—its ability to merge music, movement, and storytelling in a way that connects with an audience. Every group brings something unique to the stage, and that diversity is what keeps the art form alive and thriving. High-caliber performances, whether they focus on technical mastery, emotional depth, or sheer entertainment value, all deserve recognition. Congrats to Linn Mar, and all my admiration to every performer who pours their heart into their craft!
edit- Wanted to quick add, as someone who has judged this competition in past years, Chesterton puts on a first rate experience for all schools. Props to them for holding multiple sites showcasing a variety of groups and sizes... It's not easy!
I just don’t understand these comments and they happen multiple times every season. Chesterton put on a top notch competition yesterday with 4 separate finals (ending at a fairly reasonable time too!!) and all the groups went out and gave absolutely incredible performances… only for some people to get hung up on the fact that there were lines of dialogue in a show. I just think it’s a totally arbitrary thing to get hung up on. I’d be willing to bet that Linn-Mar had as much singing and dancing as any other competitor yesterday.
Im just going to leave the definition of show choir here. A show choir (previously known as a "swing choir") is a musical ensemble that combines choral singing with choreographed dance, often integrated into a narrative story or overarching theme.
I personally come from a school that did not do themes, but I think there is a fine line between themed shows and theatre shows. There is no reason to put down insanely put together shows just because you come from somewhere that maybe does not do show choir like that.
They consistently win all categories. At the end of the day it is how well you sing and dance. If you can tell a story and entertain at the same time then great. Story shows are becoming more and more popular. That is what is great about show choir the freedom to tell a story any way you want. Linn Mar's combination of a great director, exceptional choreographers and talented kids who put in a lot of hard work make for entertaining and phenomenal shows every year.
I totally agree, Adam. However, I also want to push back, because un-themed or non-story shows are also getting a lot of hate from judges nowadays. So it is totally true that there should be no preference to one style or another. I just don't see that that is always the case in show choir judging nowadays.
I AM NOT COMMENTING ON THIS COMPETITION AT ALL. I AM SURE THAT LINN-MAR DESERVED TO WIN AND I RESPECT THEIR PROGRAM IMMENSELY.
Some days are rough so we roll with the waves. This living is tough, slack is the pay. But we leave with the sunrise we wake at the dawn. Singin' the fisherman's song!
As a long-time judge, I agree 100% with everyone who says we cannot evaluate a group based on style or concept.
Whether it's a story show, topic show, or traditional show is pretty irrelevant. Here's really all that matters:
-Was everyone challenged with material that took hard work to achieve at a high level?
-How do they sing? (tone, stamina, blend, balance, intonation, projection, execution of nuance, etc)
-How do they dance? (posture, basic technique, rhythm, lines, spacing, strength, etc)
-How do they present? (character development or facials, transitions, commitment, consistency, professionalism, etc)
-How do they integrate with combo? (balance, accuracy of combo, what does combo add/take away from presentation)
-How effectively do they utilize "other" things? (special effects, lighting, props, stage crew integration, set pieces, etc)
As judges, we are NOT judging things like:
-"I like ballroom better than rock, or tap better than hip-hop"
-"I prefer story shows to revues"
-"That show was too dark, or too light-hearted"
We judge what's put before us....period. Otherwise, we shouldn't be judging. Congrats to all the schools at what appears to have been an epic competition filled with overflowing excellence!
I would also like to add to anyone that comments about any group that it “isn’t show choir.” If show choir never evolved or changed, we would all still be singing stock charts with only piano, drums, and bass while doing step touches, box steps, and the occasional grapevine to up the difficulty level.
I was lucky enough to talk to performers from every state represented yesterday - Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Mississppi. Everyone was just so happy and conducted themselves with great class in what was obviously a high-stakes competition. A few highlights of my day:
Linn-Mar: your collective humility was so refreshing. Of course, the show was life-changing as well.
Millard North: the support that members of each group show the other two groups in the program was unrivaled yesterday. True definition of a cohesive program.
Carroll: so unassuming. As one performer told me, "maybe we'll come in clutch today." Y'all certainly did.
Pike: your genuine joy was great to see. Congrats Mystiques on your first division win since 2014!
still can’t get over the show Ambassadors put on. Especially given that this was their first time out, absolutely insane. A bit surprised they didn’t walk away with a vocal caption
This is absolutely not what happened. Many spectators, like myself, held seats without leaving the auditorium the whole afternoon. It’s understandable why they would take a break. Most competing choirs didn’t hit the gym until soon before awards.I left before Sandpipers exhibition and took the time to freshen up and decompress before a high-energy awards ceremony.
If you want people to watch the exhibition, have it in the same place as awards.
I was addressing your comment accusing people of skipping out on the exhibition to get good seats for awards. There was a packed house for Drifters before morning awards in the auditorium.
For the record - the humans I interacted with today, from performers to parents to competition staff, were top-notch. I don’t want anyone leaving this competition ashamed of themselves.
I am sorry for whoever this is, they don’t have an actual name and as far as I am concerned do not speak for the program (I am the Director). while we of course would have loved to have a packed house for our host performance we understand that sometimes things happen. Due to the size of the awards we could not have had awards in the auditorium due to space so we had to have them in the gym - thanks to all who watched us perform and cheered so loud! We know many watched the livestream as well! Thanks to all who made it in there!
