Weird how I never mentioned any specific choir...but everyone assumed Menchville.
And I can't help if YOU read it in a bitter way. I sure did not type it in a bitter way. Like I said...it's a discussion board. I am interested if anyone can find a solution. Not interested in any bickering back and forth with you, showoff21. You keep missing the point. Why not enrich your group and go for it when you have that much skill? It's a HUGE compliment and a shame they wont have the privilege of competing at their maximum level. And maybe I don't mean Menchville...you all assumed that.
o ok, you didnt mean the choir that swept the B awards? Best of luck at Kecoughtan this weekend and thanks for the compliments?
Weird how I never mentioned any specific choir...but everyone assumed Menchville.
And I can't help if YOU read it in a bitter way. I sure did not type it in a bitter way. Like I said...it's a discussion board. I am interested if anyone can find a solution. Not interested in any bickering back and forth with you, showoff21. You keep missing the point. Why not enrich your group and go for it when you have that much skill? It's a HUGE compliment and a shame they wont have the privilege of competing at their maximum level. And maybe I don't mean Menchville...you all assumed that.
So the hosts of the Hanover competition must have "rained on your parade" when they voiced the exact same opinion in front of the whole auditorium. I would be willing to bet the judges said the same things on your tapes. And I am confused why you are so defensive...it is a HUGE compliment to be told by the hosts of an invitational, judges, and observers that your performance is so incredible, you are in the wrong division. Isn't it a huge disservice to your students not to see how far they can go with the skills you have clearly brought to them? Ghostwriter, there is no hate, anger or bad sportsmanship here...a forum is for a discussion. This subject has been a topic for a long time. In fact, some of these choirs made the same point last year.
Numbers should not be the only factor to decide a "B" or "A" choir. If over 30 members make an "A" choir, than groups will just pick 29. It could be seasonal decisions: director experience, a percentage of upperclassmen (say you have a mass exodus of seniors and you have to rebuild your choir). There could be many formulas. I am not the first to mention the situation, and agree with MHSdirector, that the choir directors should meet and discuss this issue in hope to effect an equitable solution. I'm a choir lover....If I was a hater, I would not care.
It was the DIRECTOR of Hanover, my best friend and employer, and what he said, just as he said it to groups in the past, is next year you are now moving up to the A Division. I have it on tape. It was not said in the manner you have just stated, and you did say it in a "hater" and bitter way.
Hopewell girls are also moving to A division at the Hanover competition next year. This is a usual thing at the Hanover competition and what happens at one competition in no way effects whats happening at the one the week after. Different invitational, different judges, and most of the time different Rules.
So the hosts of the Hanover competition must have "rained on your parade" when they voiced the exact same opinion in front of the whole auditorium. I would be willing to bet the judges said the same things on your tapes. And I am confused why you are so defensive...it is a HUGE compliment to be told by the hosts of an invitational, judges, and observers that your performance is so incredible, you are in the wrong division. Isn't it a huge disservice to your students not to see how far they can go with the skills you have clearly brought to them? Ghostwriter, there is no hate, anger or bad sportsmanship here...a forum is for a discussion. This subject has been a topic for a long time. In fact, some of these choirs made the same point last year.
Numbers should not be the only factor to decide a "B" or "A" choir. If over 30 members make an "A" choir, than groups will just pick 29. It could be seasonal decisions: director experience, a percentage of upperclassmen (say you have a mass exodus of seniors and you have to rebuild your choir). There could be many formulas. I am not the first to mention the situation, and agree with MHSdirector, that the choir directors should meet and discuss this issue in hope to effect an equitable solution. I'm a choir lover....If I was a hater, I would not care.
So a group isn't a B Choir because they don't look cheap and remedial? One year ago at this same competition, Menchville didn't even place top 3. Kecoughtan moved up this year, before them Amherst. Smile, Paint another backdrop, do whatever, just don't Rain on someones Parade. They work harder than you, they won. Plain and simple.
Completely agree. I can get that you're upset you didn't do as well with the placing as you would have liked. That's understandable. But to turn around and dog someone else who obviously worked hard to achieve something, that's just low, and is bad sportsmanship. I could understand if they weren't all that great and someone won. That's one thing. But to get mad at someone because they're good at what they do, and then to make assumptions that they don't have it as hard when it comes to funding and fueling their show, that's a whole nother thing entirely. Menchville is just doing their best with what they've got. There's no reason to hate on them like that.
So a group isn't a B Choir because they don't look cheap and remedial? One year ago at this same competition, Menchville didn't even place top 3. Kecoughtan moved up this year, before them Amherst. Smile, Paint another backdrop, do whatever, just don't Rain on someones Parade. They work harder than you, they won. Plain and simple.
I will say I have to disagree with some of your statement, but I think now would be a great time for B directors to sit down and discuss what the "by-laws" should be. I really believe we should adopt a "numbers" approach and that the division should be based strictly on the number of students in the show choir. Other B directors may or may not agree with this, hence the reason I think a discussion would be a great way to remedy that.
You might be surprised what our resources are and where our money comes from. We receive next to no money from the city of Newport News and not a dime from Menchville. We fundraise. A LOT. And we bargain shop. We do not have a parent organization that makes or repairs costumes, or does any of those things for us. We (I) do it myself. We are also fortunate to have great relationships with some local businesses who donate some of the things we need.
And additionally, the biggest section of the score sheet is vocals, which doesn't have anything to do with money spent on choreographers or costumes. And that is where I spend most of my effort and time.
Thank you for sharing your views. I hope this situation can be resolved for next year. I think there are quite a few choirs feeling stuck between A and B division...maybe enough for another division? Because while you might be looking at me thinking, we could never afford to do that, I'm looking at a show choir who easily spent as much money on their closer as I spent on my whole show thinking the same thing.
Where is the pride and satisfaction in winning a trophy in the "B" Division when you are clearly an "A" group posing as a "B" team? I know there are no specific "by- laws", but common sense dictates that the schools who have a larger population to select members from, a budget for costumes, and the ability to hire a choreographer will easily sweep the teams who have to make their own outfits, create their own choreography, and have less resources in general. I guess it is an "honor" system that is not being honored.
In the spirit of equity, I hope each director will place his or her team in the appropriate "A" or "B" category. If they are concerned that next year their resources will not be as prosperous, they can decide to change categories at that time. Your students may be excited to get a trophy, but can they really be proud when the competition is clearly unbalanced? I appreciate the MC of the Hanover Invitational attempting to drop this hint, but I fear the posing "B" team directors didn't catch it.
Hopefully some directors will rethink their placement in "A" and "B" before the Kecoughtan Invitational...so the TRUE "B" teams can receive the merit they deserve for their hard work and dedication.
Thank you to the both of you! They've been working really hard this year, and I'm very proud of them. A bit jealous I can't perform it with them, though I might jump on stage at our spring concert, just for fun.
I was asking because I missed the whole awards ceremony! I had a student who fell ill and an ambulance was called for her, so I was in the ambulance with her during the awards. I didn't know if they gave out a composite sheet, or announced scores, or something. I know most competitions don't do that, but everyone has the right to run their competition the way they see fit, of course.
Asked around until I had a reasonable guess. We (my friends within High Impact) and I asked some of the other students from other places, and they were doing the same. Might not be the most reliable way, but yeah...
Wow, the scores tonight were ridiculous. It was, what, 5 points difference between first and third in the A Division? Awesome. And well deserved. I couldn't call any of the placings for A Division at all. And I tried. Couldn't figure out who would end up where... Great job everyone, great job!
I'm typing from a phone on a moving bus, so please don't slam me on typos.
Best male soloist: Atlee Illusion
best female soloist: LC Bird Sudden Image
Best Stage Crew: Atlee Illusion
Best Band: Clover Hill New Dimensions
Best Choreography B Division: Menchville (m)pulse
Best Vocals B Division: Menchville (m)pulse
Best Choreography A Division: Clover Hill New Dimensions
Best Vocals A Division: Winston Churchill Showstoppers
Best Show Design: Clover Hill New Dimensions
Best Sportsmanship: LC Bird Sudden Image
B Division
1st place: Menchville (m)pulse
2nd place: Mills Godwin Debut
3rd place: Patrick Henry Soundsation
A Division
1st place/GC: Clover Hill New Dimensions
2nd place: Winston Churchill Showstoppers
3rd place: Cosby Spotlight
Hanover/Lee Davis Festival of Choirs (Day Two) 2010
