Haha--forget about all the show choir drama...my favorite part of the whole competition was watching the three hotties dance in front of the stage before Herscher went on. Now that was undisputed talent right there.
I seriously had so much fun on saturday! I keep hearing so much about these guys and their dancing! I must have totally missed it or something?! lol
Haha--forget about all the show choir drama...my favorite part of the whole competition was watching the three hotties dance in front of the stage before Herscher went on. Now that was undisputed talent right there.
I tried to watch as many groups as I could...So here's what i got.
Pekin Park District: Granted, I have a bias as i am your choreographer, but I was so proud of you on Saturday. Even with people missing, you coped well and I was proud to call you my own. Your high scores were well deserved. I wish you the best of luck in the future!!!
John Hills Xpeirence HAHA..Johnathan ;)...um..WOW
Manteno: Wow, for your guy to girl ratio, your guy sound was amazing. Your energy was good and I loved your repoitaire- very relateable! Jeff: props to you boy!!!! You are an amazing performer and singer!!!
Watseka: You didnt impress me at all at Pekin (as we all know) HOWEVER, with full strength, you are certainly are a different group. Vocals were much stronger. That is the Watseka I remember...GREAT JOB!!!
Hoopeston: Im glad im spelling it cause i have NO idea how to say it..lol At any rate, you guys have Mike as your choreographer, so of course ur choreo is going to be awesome (which it was). However, i felt like your vocals and therefore, some energy, were lacking, and I often didnt hear difficult harmony ( i could be wrong). Nonetheless, congratulations on ur Class Championship. Well deserved!
El Paso WOW..where did ya'll come from. Great dresses girls!!!! I see you guys attend our marching band competiiton, but I had no idea you will a GREAT show choir! GOOD VOCALS! CLEAN CHOREO! GREAT SHOW!! CONGRATS!!
Peotone You guys are awesome...props to the guy!! You are a really great performer. I can tell you have a lot of fun with what you do, and that is what counts. You could probably give some of the larger show choirs some advise in that area. GREAT JOB!
Paxton-Buckley What can I say about ya'll: you are just so fun! You have some really great performers; Im anxious to see where you guys are in the near future. YOu certainly have the talent to be great. Loved your closer...I believe it was done at SCA this past summer ;) GO SCA!!
HERSCHER CLASS ACT I have said it once, and I will say it again: Ya'll were amazing. Your choreo was as clean as a whistle...and those werent easy moves to clean. The energy was throught the figgin roof. And vocals and diction were really on, too. I've seen you a lot this year, and this was by far your best performance. Congratulations.
Johnathan: I know that you you were the brains behind the tournament ;) Thanks for the great host and as I may not see you again for a VERY long time, well- with college an all, i wish you the best of luck in the future. Class Act should realize what they are losing next year. Also, send my regards to Jake, our host: a genuinely great guy!! He was fun at all-state, pekin, qunicy and Herscher!! ALso, give Alyssa big hug for me...tell her that i will miss her a lot too
And as for the attack on Jamey's ability as a judge, that's no way to react to judging that you didn't agree with. He is a VERY talented and experienced musician, he was not bias toward any group, and he was very impressed with the entire competition. What more could you ask of a judge?
My opinion is not without basis:
For the first time, i thoroughly reviewed the scoresheets...Interesting stuff
Pekin was Second in Vocals
Pekin was Thrid in Choreography (1 pt behind Oswego)
Pekin was Second in Instrumental
Pekin was TENTH in show production...Rediculous!!! And that was only against ALL the mixed groups.
Jamey scored pekin -30 (thats 20/50!) in show production...thats a lot of freakin points. Further more (im not exaggerating), he didnt put any comments on the sheet...NOT ONE. It was blank.
Hoping for an explanation, the dance captains turned to listen to the tape. First of all, he missed the first half of our opener. Secondly, with comments like "I could use a little more energy" and "The Blocking in the ballad is slightly off on stage right" and "The pizza box props are very effective," we found no comment that constitutes his judging. That to me is not a good judge...that is a very very poor judge. Thirdly, he shut the tape off at our closer: so no critique was given on that, our strongest song.
My opinion stands: Jamey may be a very talented person...but he still has a lot to learn about show choir and therefore stands as an unqualified judge.
It also hurts as this was my and a lot of the seniors last competition, and its a pity that it had to end in such an unjust manner. Just a disappointment. " border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />
I apologize for any rash or harsh comments i made, but somethings just hurt a lot, and as a senior...this compeition did. BUT DEFFINATELY SEE MY NEXT POST FOR HAPPY STUFF
i think the reason why ppl didn't like the performance was bc it was right b4 the awards. That jsut hit me, lol. I feel smart now. Anyways, witht eh excitment of awards and then when ppl keep on putting them off, thats prolly what really got ppl upset. oh well! i'm really suprised no one had complimented the huge screen pictures at the end. That was soooooo cool! i liked how you guys built up to awards. thats something i hope to see at more competitions!
I'm sorry that people felt like Jamey's performance was tedious. We just thought it'd be something cool and different to provide everyone with and at least all of the Herscher show choir members enjoyed his presence at Swing & Sing. And when I said that he only performed 3 OF HIS songs, I was refering to the disliking of country music. The other 2 pieces he did weren't country and he didn't perform by himself. He wasn't the only talent being showcased at the end. I thought they were all excellent. Sorry our competition went late, but who's doesn't? Especially with two brief power outages... plus, the ending performances were pre-planned and it would've been rude to those performers to cut their time at the end. After all, they flew in from all over the place!
On the good side, most of the feedback I got throughout the day, Jamey included, was great and most people had a really fun time. I hope you all enjoy next year even more!
Sam~
ok, now that we've dicussed the negatives youa l saw in the comp, were there any positives??? i know i had fun! i man i do kinda agree that the country guy went on forever, but tahts only bc i don't really like country. I thought he was very talented! i'm really sorry fro any herscher ppl reading this. A lot has been negative about it. Sorry for all the negative posts!
He did more than three songs. He sang with Hercher, then he sang his three song medley, then did a duet with the opera singer guy, and then did a quartet with his college buddies. I realize he is doing what he loves, but the competition was already running behind schedule and I had already been in Herscher since 8:00 that morning. I don't really like country music but I think he was okay. I really thought what he did with Herscher's show choir was cool.
agreed, having a judges showcase would not be my first choice when the competition is already running like an hour behind schedule. " border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />
He did more than three songs. He sang with Hercher, then he sang his three song medley, then did a duet with the opera singer guy, and then did a quartet with his college buddies. I realize he is doing what he loves, but the competition was already running behind schedule and I had already been in Herscher since 8:00 that morning. I don't really like country music but I think he was okay. I really thought what he did with Herscher's show choir was cool.
and why did we have to suffer through listening to that country guy sing sooooooo many songs
i have nothing against country music, but i think a couple songs is enough........
and why was everyone goin so crazy over him. startstruck perhaps?
did he even win that competition thing?
Wow... re-read what you just said about Jamey and then think of how it would feel to be in his shoes reading that. He was just up on stage doing what he loves to do and he had a good time... And he only did 3 of his songs plus the one during our show. I really don't think that rudeness was needed...
Sam~
I think that all of the groups did excellent last Saturday. I completely agree with Johnathan when he said that most groups did the best I've seen them all year. I also think that the judging was right on. And as for the attack on Jamey's ability as a judge, that's no way to react to judging that you didn't agree with. He is a VERY talented and experienced musician, he was not bias toward any group, and he was very impressed with the entire competition. What more could you ask of a judge?
Anways, great job everyone! I'm sad that this was my last year in Class Act! Good luck to everyone who still has competing to do and also good luck next year! I'll be around at some of the competitions just to check in on each group.
Sam~
P.S. I agree with Jeff Hall when he complimented Peotone. Great job you guys! I hosted them last year when they were still an all girls group and things just keep getting better and better!
yall r crazy......everyone's complaining and fightin,
personally, i don't get too caught up in the whole "we're better than them" thing....we finished third, ya it sux bad, but it's over
yes, we may have over reacted about this whole topic.....i'm more concerned about why r dang homeroom was a mile away from civilization, i was told we weren't even in the same building as everyone else, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?
and why did we have to suffer through listening to that country guy sing sooooooo many songs
i have nothing against country music, but i think a couple songs is enough........
and why was everyone goin so crazy over him. startstruck perhaps?
did he even win that competition thing?
Ok, i know this is gonna stur up a lit of friction and I'm sorry if it does, but I have to say it. The problem that I have with Watseka now, and the problem that I have had with Watseka while I was in the groupand while I was assisting with the group is that Watseka always looks so dang young. I mean I look at other groups and their look, the outfits, the props, the SOUND.... its huge compared to Watsekas..... Now I'm not saying that has everything to do with how they finish, but in my humble opinon, I just feel that the "presance" is not there the way it is in so many other groups. I am very proud of Watseka and how well they have done this year and I hope for continued success, I would just like to see more!!! a bigger sound, a bigger look, just a little more professionalism..... thats both on AND off the stage!
I think that mabey just mabey we did get screwed from a good finish but i dont know what im talking about because this is my first year. BUT, i dont care what anyone says Watseka has made a name for ourselves and i dont think anyone can take what we had away from us. We are a tighly nit group of great ability and for us to fall apart from one comp. is just silly. everyone needs to stop arguing over a silly little thing and we will mess them us royally next year!!!!!! PEACE
Steph you also ahve to remember that at manteno you were in A division and at sullivan you were in the lower division of the mixed groups. so that arguement doesn't exactly make a point, you know? Everyone did a good job, and the comp is done and over with. Lets not contiue to argue about the results, thats just silly!
also i dont understand how a country singer can qualify as a show choir judge
Jamey Garner trained vocally under Robert Hills, he was in the EIU collegians and the Decatur Park Singers and has performed music theater in New York and throughout the country. He has also worked with some of the most famous country music producers in the nation.
Has he ever seen a show choir competition, tho? I understand that he was in the Decatur Park Singers at one time, but to be thrown into a show choir competition without any HS show choir experience is a little odd to me. He didnt judge vocals..from my understanding...he judged show production, right?
...just and opinion
Jamey Garner did judge Show Production which consists of the following:
Staging- A Variety of pictures are used throughout - Utilization of the entire performing area.
Visual Transistions- Pacing and flow of visual ideas within the program.
Use of Special Equipment- Innovative use of costuming,sets and/or props.
Showmanship- Performer involvement is evident though expressive facial communications and confidence. - Controlled response to and recovery from unexpected events,- Solo performed communicate to audience,- Bows, acknowledgements and audience appreciation.
Visual Dynamics- Choreography, equipment and/or visual effects are used to acheieve climatic visual moments.
Anyone with Jamey's experience in the music/performing profession would be able to effectivly judge the factors of a show listed above.
Also here are the full results:
Juinior Division:
Best Female Solist: Manteno JH - Abby Sparrow
Best Male Soloist: Hoopeston JH - Matt Morgason
Class A 3rd RO: ElPaso JH
Class A 2nd RO: Hoopeston JH
Class A 1st RO: Paxton JH
Class A Champion: Manteno JH
Class AA 1st RO: Pekin Park
Class AA Champion: Johns Hill
Junior High Grand Champion: Johns Hill
Single-Gender Division:
Best Female Soloist: PEkin Hs Felicia Cannmore
2nd RO: Oswego HS
1st RO: Pekin HS
Champion: Danville HS
Solo Competition Champion: Hoopeston HS Jon Drollinger
Senior Division
Best Combo: Oswego HS
Best Vocals Danville HS
Best Choreo: Danville HS
Best Female Soloist: Danville HS - Cindy Nichols
Best Male Soloist: El Paso HS - Logan Everett
Class A 2nd RO: Peotone HS
Class A 1st RO : Paxton HS
Class A Champion: El Paso HS
Class AA 2nd RO: Watseka HS
Class AA 1st RO: Manteno HS
Class AA Champion: Hoopeston HS
Class AAA 3rd RO: Alan B Shepard HS
Class AAA 2nd RO: Pekin HS
Class AAA 1st RO: Oswego HS
Class AAA Champion Danville
Wow, lots of tension here. I think that all groups did well, and there's no need to get upset about placement. Coming from a group last year where we did really really well, and then having this season not be our most successful by any means, I can undserstand however where you are all coming from. At first this season when we were not doing so hot....I too got angered by all of this. But I soon got over it. Different competitions mean different judges and different perspectives. Everyone will see different up's and down's to each show. I think everyone did great...and I had a heck of a good time at Herscher...So let's all just smile!
Herscher Swing And Sing 2004
those guys were hot!!!!! i think they were from oswego...all i know is the moved like no other!!! 
Jeff: props to you boy!!!! You are an amazing performer and singer!!!
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