It was different to sit in the audience and know that Music Machine wouldnt be performing that night, but I still had a great time...
I think all the choirs that placed did a fantastic job. I have to say I was most impressed with Arcadia. Last night was so different then what I've seen in the past. Awesome, awesome job to all of you!
Burbank, you are still my favorite group but I was so looking forward to a energy-filled "get my heart racing" closer, which I'm sure is on the way. (I do remember that last year at Aztec your "first" closer wasnt performed... so we're waiting )
Overall, I liked what I saw with everybody. I can't wait to hear everyone's comments next week after DB...
oh yes, and one final thought... Will Diamond Bar ever stop growing?
As an Alumni, I felt the competition, the moment I walked into the theatre had a weird atmosphere to it. Its the not the feeling of being rushed..but almost like the feeling of wanting more. I found myself saying a lot.."Is that It?? I just felt that some groups were not ready for Aztec. I also believe the outcomes of the competition were very sketchy. Here is my questions and thoughts of the night.
* I really do believe that Diamond Bar got the shaft.
* Burbanks closer wasnt a closer. ( But still a great set and costumes!)
* I actually didnt fall asleep during Arcadia..it must be due to that new choreographer they got.
* Burroughs ..I WANT MORE!! I love the original show choir look you guys have..awesome.
* Chula Vista has awesome talent I know you guys are going to wow everyone at the next competition.
Everyone else was just simply splendid. I cant wait to see the next competiton. Awesome job you guys!
Here's my two cents on the whole "not doing a real set at Aztec Sing" debacle based on my experience with my own choir....
1) At a competition where showmanship is less than 30% of the total score, I do not see the point in worrying about your "show pieces." It hardly seems worth it to rent a moving truck to bring your sets and risers and such. The scoresheet hardly recognizes these aspects anyway, why spend the money and time to get these things in working condition to Citrus College?
2) Time is a major issue. I know for a fact that the vast majority of choirs do not begin to learn their competition set until late December/ early January. (If I'm not mistaken, Diamond Bar begins to learn their set towards the beginning of the school year and continues to work on it throughout the year) In my opinion, less than a month is hardly enough time to get an entire show up and running. I'm sure that all of the schools who did a "partial show" last night have other material already prepared, it was just not up to par to compete with yet. I would much rather do part of a show and execute it well than perform an entire show that is not ready yet and looks and sounds like a gigantic mess.
Give everyone a little time. Were people expecting all of the choirs to have their show at the level they usually have it by SoCal? Come on now, it IS January. By Brea, I'm sure everyone will have their "entire set" out fo public display (and ridicule). Until then, take a deep breath, and keep working hard.
Like pre-conference games for a college basketball team, has Aztec Sing become a way for choirs to get an easy win under their belt? Is it a competition where groups merely try out material? With several choirs performing obviously incomplete sets Friday night, it’s no wonder some comments have included “What’s going on?â€
Clearly the 80/20 (okay, 72.7/27.3) musicianship/showmanship split doesn’t help the situation. Directors are smart to shape the performance to the score sheet, but then is the focus merely on taking home awards? I applaud any time vocalism is a priority in show choir, but then why not start the season with a competition that is entirely vocal? Let the message be that a group shouldn’t begin to even think about show, until they have choir down pat. Several groups had pleasing ballads yet the singing before and after suffered from too much choreography, as well as poor choice of material. (The secret to an exciting performance doesn’t depend on more whooping and hollering, more rock and roll, or more pop music. It lies in effective arrangements of solid choral material – regardless of style.) Especially at a competition where singing is scored so very heavily, those choirs would do better to just stand and sing really well.
Overall, I was pleased to notice that as a whole the choirs are much cleaner visually than my last Aztec Sing a few years ago (2001 or 2002). Without exception, everyone seems to have gotten it together. That said, now it’s time for some groups to update their material. Down to each foot placement, and hand gesture, some groups have seemingly not altered their performance at all. It’s clean now. Everyone’s got it. Move on. Try something new. Push the envelope. And please - please - those oh-so-girlie ballad positions with the gals sitting on the ground with their skirts spread around them – make them go away.
Choreographers, remember that not every beat needs a separate movement. Less CAN be more. Too much going on, and each move loses effectiveness. Also, unless you’re going for some kind of time-warp head-trip, note the time period of the piece of music; 20s Charleston to 50s rock and roll just looks odd.
Directors, not every show needs a soloist. Solos should be reserved for when someone’s a star. If you don’t have someone with the chops to get the job done, don’t embarrass you or the kid by sticking a mic in just anyone’s hand. Also, it was great to see a couple of directors front and center to conduct their choir’s ballad. Theater – of which I consider show choir to be - is a living, breathing medium. A ballad should never be done exactly the same way twice, but shaped and molded each time as the performance, acoustics and circumstance dictates.
Were there no onstage monitors for directors and instrumentalists last night? Nearly every performance had moments where the singers were over-powered by their band. It got better as the night progressed – or maybe I got used to it – but it was a real problem for several choirs in the first half of the competition.
Finally, the good folk at Azusa High School would make a lot of folk happy if they would open their concession stand before the contest starts. The early 7:00 pm curtain coupled with the usual Los Angeles traffic makes dinner before getting to Citrus College virtually impossible. Then with only a few minutes between choirs, there isn’t time to stand in line, eat, and get back to your seat.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From the moment the curtain rose on its pale-blue clad members, Powerhouse, lived up to its name. More and more each year, John Burroughs High School shows its kids are performers through and through. They don’t just execute specific choreography, just sing words, or just plaster a smile across their face; they communicate - effortlessly and genuinely.
Opening with Michael Jackson's powerful "Earth Song" - the same arrangement that helped Powerhouse capture Showstopper's Disneyland competition in 1997 - the Burroughs’ vocalism was consistently full, rich and mature. Whether singing MJ, the Sherman Brothers, or Van Halen, director Mary Rago has taught her kids how to create tones appropriate for the style of music being performed, yet always maintaining a beautiful blend and balance. Burroughs’ ballad was “Feed the Birds†from the classic Disney film – and new London stage production – Mary Poppins, followed by the title song from the musical Ragtime. Powerhouse ended this abridged competition set with Van Halen’s “Jump.†(Good to hear that this number will be getting some added production value, as the existing dance break just went on too long.)
Kudos to choreographer – and Powerhouse alumnus – Jen Oundjian for knowing how choreography should always enhance and accent music and lyrics, and never detract. Creating moves that are contemporary, elegant, and - again – appropriate! Jen is one of the very best choreographers in show choir today.
The Burroughs guys wore long-jacketed suits in pale blue with white shirts and navy ties, while the ladies wore pale blue halter dresses with an asymmetrical skirt, accented with silver embroidery and sequins.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Year in and year out, Arcadia High School’s Chanteurs usually always sing well, with pleasant voices nicely blended. This year, they appear to have a show to match. Chanteurs’ performance was possibly the cleanest of the night, opening with (Alabama’s?) “I’m In A Hurry.†For a number that isn’t a pointed stylized 50s throwback, the staging of “Hurry†was an odd stereotype for 2005 – with all the gals depicting housewives and all the guys being businessmen - nevertheless, it worked. The feather duster and briefcase props were used effectively.
Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me†was next, with nice solos, but also a piano that was unfortunately way too loud.
You can never go wrong with the lovely “Embraceable You†as a ballad, but some of the phrases in last night’s performance seemed to be held just a little too long, marring the poetry of the lyrics.
The whoops that accompanied the transition into “Higher and Higher†finale were energized, but didn’t match the choreography that needed a few bars to really get going. Some exaggerated dynamic changes could also add some excitement to this number.
Many have argued that Chanteurs too often plays it safe, eschewing costume changes, platforms or backdrops, and all the other trappings so prevalent in show choir today. Maybe they do, or maybe director Rollie Maxson just knows how to play to the judges. Certainly, as their first runner-up finish attests, they do what they do very, very well.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Wearing silver coatdresses (hiding stunning charcoal grey velvet dresses with a gray satin ruffle across the bottom), black tuxedos with charcoal velvet vests and silver ties, Burbank High School’s In Sync kicked off their set with a sophisticated and syncopated rendition of the old standby “Puttin’ On the Ritz.†Beautifully sung, and smartly choreographed, Burbank should have stopped there, as the rest of their performance proved to be a let down.
Not only are the lyrics - Lying beside you, Here in the Dark, Feeling your heartbeat with mine - inappropriate for high school performers, In Sync’s singing was stylistically inappropriate for a rock and roll ballad. The soaring wall-of-sound one expects and appreciates in the R&R power ballad was too heavy, too dark and too over-enunciated Friday night. Add the really terrific soloist, and the contrast with the weighted choral sound was particularly jarring. Additionally, I’m assuming a costume change is forthcoming, because while absolutely smashing for their opener, no self-respecting lady headbanger would be caught dead onstage with the teased hair, the velvet gown or the dangling rhinestones.
Burbank concluded their performance with “In the Air Tonight.†Although choreographed with some terrific moves, certain songs – particularly those so singularly associated with as unique a stylist as Phil Collins – just shouldn’t be arranged for choir.
One performance – and an incomplete one at that - won’t get me to change my opinion that In Sync is one of the top four or five show choirs in the country, but I am anxious to see how director Brett Carroll pulls this one out.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Do the members of Diamond Bar High School’s Marquis do shots of Red Bull before they go on, or what!?! Over 60 members strong, Marquis grabs the audience from the get go and doesn’t let up until the gals have literally flattened their male counterparts – to Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker†no less. Yet through selections from West Side Story, Thoroughly Modern Millie, the Eurythmics, and the aforementioned Ms. Benatar, there are so many performers, so many costume changes and so much constant movement onstage, it often seems director Dave Willert has captured the show, but fogotten the choir. Certainly a group that big should be creating a much bigger sound. The guys were particularly anemic Friday night, with poor blend and pitch problems. Nevertheless, they were certainly the crowd pleaser of the night. They performed the most complete set and are well choreographed… though I can imagine more than one parent in the audience raising an eyebrow to the suggestive choreography in the girl’s rendition of the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams.â€
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Judges for the contest were all local to southern CA; Roger Duffer, Thomas Kessler, and twenty-one time producer of Aztec Sing, John Wilson.
Why are more groups "hiding" their set now? It's getting ridiculous, pretty soon, all the groups will start hiding their sets, and there will be no point to it. Aztec will turn into a 2-song per group festival. It's a competition, so COMPETE! Don't go and just do half of your set just to see your competition, that's what causes show choir to lose its luster...
;) just a thought
[snapback]302244[/snapback]
I totally agree!! But they may not all be hiding so...
Mark Keppel- i knew all your songs!!! i could sing along!!! BWAHAHAHAHA! sexay linzie&thanh
Arcadia- didn't get to see you guys *tear*
Burbank- vocals were impecable, choreography... i want to learn it!!! aaaaaand yeah.. i think y'all were robbed. i thought you were bloody awesome.
Glendora- wonderful!! speshuly that dude who can do those splits!!!!
Chula Vista- I LOVE IT!!! haha wicked and tear them down [?] very awesome.
Diamond Bar- heard y'all did west side story. muy bien.
Eastlake- y'all sounded well from the little taped box where i was standing back stage...
Brea- i heard y'all had a good a capella.. didn't get to see cuz EHS performed before you and i had to tech.
Carlsbad- really cute! let's get it started was awesome!!
Burroughs- AMAZING!!!! the opener was awesome so was the closer... i got a huge rush of energy just watching y'all. wonderful job. you deserved first all the way.
OMGOSH i had such a fun time despite that i was on a tight leash so i couldn't meet people, socialize, etc.
Why are more groups "hiding" their set now? It's getting ridiculous, pretty soon, all the groups will start hiding their sets, and there will be no point to it. Aztec will turn into a 2-song per group festival. It's a competition, so COMPETE! Don't go and just do half of your set just to see your competition, that's what causes show choir to lose its luster...
;) just a thought
[snapback]302244[/snapback]
I dont know if its necessarily hiding our sets, but more like the fact that we havent finished them...I know PH did our songs for Aztec because those were the ones that were the most ready..but I dont know...maybe they were hiding their sets, but since its competition, everything should be more open... " border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />
Just so we get it straight, the split is 72.7% music and 27.3% show.
I won't comment about placements except to say that my predictions were exactly as it came out. I'm not saying that's the way it should have been, just the way I thought it would be, knowing the history of the competition and judges and the way the scoresheet is set up.
I thought everybody did well and that most of the groups will improve greatly as they have more time to work on their sets. When you start the set in January, as many groups do, it's hard to find the time to even finish teaching the music and choreographjy, much less perfecting it.
Nice responsive audience. The performers and staff really appreciate that.
Aztec was one of the best "first competitions of the season" I've seen. I must commend ALL the groups for being able to give their all in the shows they performed. I could really feel the energy and it was such a pleasure to see everyone.
I missed Mark Keppel due to horrible traffic. My apologies.
Arcadia Overall, I was incredibly impressed. I must say that ,based on the group from last year, I was not expecting much, but you guys really hit it out of the park. Your sound was very nice. The blend was in perfect Arcadia style and the ballad was amazing. Your choreography also looks different than years past, it was very enjoyable and clean. The black and white was also very complementing to your sound. Congrats on a job well done! You will definitely be among the top groups this year.
Burbank I was really excited to see your show, but when it happened, I was a little disappointed. I know it's early in this season, so I shouldn't expect all the show to be done yet, but I was unimpressed with what I did see. I don't think you were as musically strong as the two previous years and since the comp was 80/20, it resulted in third. I look forward to what you have to add to your set.
Glendora Much better sound than years past. I enjoyed seeing all the effort you put into your show.
Chula Vista I knew a group wouldn't pass up the chance to do Wicked. "One Short Day" was fun, but I didn't care for the arrangement of "For Good". You all had so much enery at the end of the set! Great show and I can't wait to see you at future performances.
Diamond Bar WOW! Showmanship was greatly deserved. As always, you continue to amaze me with your show. Although the West Side Story set was from my days in show choir, it was still exciting to see it again. You never cease to amaze me with all the energy and facials you give. One thing though- the soloist in Millie was in the wrong key and even made the group stray from the key of the song, eek! I LOVE the costumes and want to congratulate you on a job well done!
I missed Eastlake.
Brea I think you guys did a great job given that there were only about 20-21 people (that I could count). The ballad was nice and I enjoyed seeing some familiar songs.
Burroughs AMAZING! Being the last group of the night, I expected to see some tired faces, but what I saw was the most passionate performance of the night. You really are full of truly talented performers. You are always so much fun to watch and I always looks forward to what you choose to do. The first song was awesome and so powerful. And Ragtime-WOW!- you sounded like the original cast recording! You definitely deserved music! Congrats on a wonderful performance. I look forward to seeing your set at other comps!
Overall, I think they placements were all deserved. I, unlike others, do not think any group was "robbed", but placed where they should have based on the 80/20 spread. Congrats to all groups on performances well done!
Why are more groups "hiding" their set now? It's getting ridiculous, pretty soon, all the groups will start hiding their sets, and there will be no point to it. Aztec will turn into a 2-song per group festival. It's a competition, so COMPETE! Don't go and just do half of your set just to see your competition, that's what causes show choir to lose its luster...
before i go into detail on the overall performances last night at aztec, here are some my favorite "stuff":
-arcadia: you were very vocally there (as always); good blends, and a very nice change in choreography. keep it up
-burbank: very nice tone from both sides... i felt all of your songs were well executed, and the choreography was very nice. to me, this years group(set) cant be compared to last years- its just overall different... you guys were once again excellent, and overall my favorites. after hearing your set, when i think of you guys, its always"burbank ..." you guys are hiding more, which is understandable in a 80/20 split... cant wait!
-chula vista: very nice choreography- good change. good choice of songs, cant wait to see the new set.
-diamond bar: still managing to get a lot of people in the group-a problem at bonita... anyways, i love your choreography, you were my favorite for showmanship.
-carlsbad: very different change of set from last year( w/ new director). your vocals has improved, along with a nice change in choreography... im liking it.
-burroughs: i like the comeback opener, very much improved since last done... very nice choreography, excellent vocals... "everythings happy"... congragulations on teh first place!
okay, now the overall review:
everything is close to where i pre-placed them, my predictions about musicianship and showmanship were correct, the placings were different, but all the groups that i placed up there were nonetheless there.... anyways, i understand that this was a 80/20 competition, hopefully everyones true set is revealed next week at diamondbar, i was really displeased(along w/ a well respected show choir figure) with the show choir feeling. to me it seemed like show choirs have lost there luster, but im hoping that the originality, and unique quality of the show choirs are present next week at diamondbar. good luck next week and feel free to "holla" at me in future comps( im the big asian in Music Machine)
yay!! so fun!! i loved it all!! i MISS it all. CSULB doesnt have a show choir *tears* oh college... anyway!! BURROUGHS... I LOVE YOU!! always. and im glad i got to see everyone last night. its usually just the love of my life chris, and woody, eddie, joel... whoever shows up at my little visits, but last night... aww i just missed everyone!!
burbank... *tears tears* i didnt get to see you!! i came too late, blame my work... i did get to see my fave jeffery!! yay jeff. but next week ill see the whole thing, yessssssssss.
everyone else!! well you did fabulous. cant be as excited for you cus im not as emotionally attached, haha, but it was good times!! good work, keep it up, and thanx for the shoooooooooow.
im going to diamond bar i think, cus its los al's (*my old choir, sigh*) first comp!! i have to see their set... catch everyone on the flip side.
aw what a GREAT night!!!!!!!!!!! UNFORTUNATELY, we didn't get to see the first few groups, because we were SO late...the first set we saw was chula vista's!!!!! great job, everyone, & i CAN'T WAIT for diamond bar next week!!!!!! it's gonna be SO much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i think everyone did a good job...a lot of groups improved, and despite the fact that not everyone went home with a trophy, like willert always tells us at the db comp, everyones a winner
OMG! I had so much fun! i think i lost my voice cheering for everyone!
Mark Keppel - you guys really did like you guys were having so much fun! it was great watching you guys...
Burbank - what can i say... i LOVED you costumes! they were so purtyful onstage!
Diamond Bar - i loved the West Side Story part! i was great... oh and i liked the whole pink layer under the black dresses.. that was really cool
Burroughs - once again... what can i say?!? once again LOVED the costumes for both girls and guys... And the acapella was AWESOME! i loved it!
Azusa Aztec Sing XXX 2005
)
we never get invited.
sexay linzie&thanh
" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />