Just saying that I absolutely loved Jefferson and Totino(as always). Also hands down to the Vocalmotive soloist for the Final Countdown- blew me away. I was really impressed by how many amazing varsity groups there was.
I just watched the video this afternoon from prelims and Totino-Grace was VERY clean with their choreography. The camera shots show the cleanliness (without a doubt) as they shot the show from the front, sides and overhead. It's a busy show with a lot going on, but the choreography rocked and April did an amazing job with these kids!
I cannot echo everyone's sentiments that has ever said this competition should be moved the the gym enough. The auditorium is a fantastic venue, but it creates such a train-wreck. I know moving it to the gym would be such a huge undertaking (and expensive) but I think the competition would benefit highly from it. That mess was the worst part of my day by far.
Totino, CR Kennedy, and CR Jefferson were all fantastic. Make it a point to see these shows live during the season, you won't be disappointed.
I personally agreed with most of the results. The biggest issue for me was the best choreography award. For me, conceptually and compositionally Totino probably had the best choreography. But it was definitely not super clean. In fact, I thought it was quite messy at times. CR Jefferson WSD by far had the cleanest, and crispest choreography all day...it was fantastic. In my opinion CR Kennedy's choreography was also much cleaner than Totino's.
That being said...what truly is a "Best Choreography" award? Does it go to the group with the actual best choreography, with little regard to cleanliness? In that case (in my opinion), it probably did belong to Totino. Or does it belong to the group with the cleanest and sharpest choreography? In that case (in my opinion), CR Jefferson deserved it.
Protege was one of the most impressive moments of the day for me. I think they would have had a great shot at making finals (not in exhibition) if they would have been eligible too. Crazy good...
I also thought CR Washington "Momentum" should have made finals.
All in all, I had a great day. Congrats to all performing groups!!!
I cannot wait to see CR Jefferson, CR Kennedy, Totino, and CR Washington later in the season!!!
The competition was really fun! I had a great time. I really wish I could have seen Bemidji, Jefferson, and CR Kennedy. Hopefully someone will put up a video!
One issue i have had with the 3 competitions i have attended so far this year and noticed in the past is that groups are rewarded with "shouting" instead of singing. You have 40+ members, there should be NO need to shout. And its sending a wrong message for what should be being taught.
Going to comment on some of the shows i saw-
Vivace- Wow, i am SUPER impressed with the work you've done. I watched you and forgot you were a freshman group. The girls were very mature looking and had a good sound. Choreography was awesome and I can't wait to see you at later competitions this year!
Bloomington Kennedy Girls- I am sorry I am not a fan of girls groups and i can't really comment on your sound or anything because I can't really say what is right or wrong, i liked the show design it was cute and fun. I loved a few of the dresses you had. good luck the rest of the year!
Protege- Wow. wow. wow. Just phenomenal. Clean, GREAT sound. I knew you were going to be a force when i saw you at your concert back in november. The opener is still stuck in my head. Just great sound. Everyone looked older and mature. Great show design. I loved the ballad and great job to the ballad soloist you were great! The closer was fun... but i felt the confetti and waving things took away from how good of a show it was. I don't think you need them. But great job and can't wait to see you at Great River this year!
Celebration- I am always going to be tough on you guys just because you are my alma mater. I saw you back a few months ago and thought train wreck. but you suprised the HECK out of me. The opener is a bit memorable from my junior year but the rest of the show is just as good. I feel the next few competitions you are going to come into your own. Great sound and look, pictures were great. I was very impressed! great job
Showtime- I saw you last year and knew you were going to be good again this year. I was impressed and loved the show. i had you in 2nd for the prep groups!
Ovation- 70+ kids... almost all on stage at the same time... i was let down. I am sure your show was super clean... but with SOOO many kids its hard to LOOK clean. Vocals were a let down, i expect to be blown away but it sounded like you have 38 people on stage. its a great show, and I feel it is a winning show, just a bit underwhelming for what you have on stage.
Bloomington Kennedy "RIG"- Interesting show... the opener was kind of cool, and i liked the effect from starting off with the red and the white showing up. I feel that the capes weren't effective props, and would be better suited to have in the 2nd song instead. I liked the "no good deed" song!
IC West- overall i liked the show. I liked it A LOT better at finals. I feel like it is too fast tho. choreography, singing, everything was just too fast. As always you have great vocals, and good to see your dancing starting to meet that! i LOVE the closer dresses, so cute and fun!
Happiness- What can i say, you have a formula that does you well. I loved the first three songs, the opener is a lot of fun. Fireflies has grown on me, and i like it. I love the arr. and choreo is fun and effective. The ballad... wow.. i am impressed. When i saw it in November i didn't like it, it was anti-climactic. Quite the opposite. deserved standing O in the day round.. how ever finals it didn't do it for me. At times i feel you get very shouty and its kind of a turn off. Also... during the ballad in the finals i feel like its forced emotion... people moving their hands every which way... i don't have a problem with showing emotion but do it if it is pure, but from my stand point after seeing it during the day it was "fake" like... or generated. Great job, and i know i will be seeing you at Great River!
CSI- Sorry, wasn't a fan of the show. I felt like i couldn't hear a single word either time and the choreography and show design was just off. Great soloist at the end, just a very random Orange dress to throw in on someone. And the bro song was just... awkward. I wanted to like it, finals i gave the show a clear mind and just... couldn't like it. I didn't have you in finals. Good luck the rest of the year and down in FAME Orlando.
Bemidji- I love your shows year in and out. I love the choreography that april gives you, but i wish you would sing a tad better. You get very shouty at a lot of points in your show. the one thing i am very confused on is the ballad with the guys turning around and SHOUTING something... its a turn off especially in a ballad setting.. i really liked the guys song and the opener. can't wait to see what you do with it at Totino's competition
Jefferson- HOLY JESUS. Welcome back! I know you were there last year but i feel like this was a different step. Day round I was a bit turned off... the band was loud and a bit sloppier then i am used to. but finals you rocked it. your closer is hands down the best i've seen in a while.The tap is fun, the kids are having fun and the band just ROCKS it. I am not a fan of the outfits at the end. The ballad is beautiful but there are a few people who look mad... and i don't feel that should be the case at all! its a beautiful song. great choreography very clean. Can't wait to see you at Benton
Totino Grace- UGH. YOU CAN DO NO WRONG. this is the first year since 04 that i have not known anything about your show. I didn't look at the show in the program, i didn't look at the costumes when you were setting up, i went with a totally open mind. Can i please say i walked out very impressed? Ana.. you do amazing things with their costumes. I couldn't pick anything different for them... (except the black dice dress... not a huge fan...) One thing i love about Totino Grace is they sing. They don't shout. They sing. the tone and sound is just beautiful even when they are tapping doing hard choreography, its just... awesome. I love what April gives you for choreography. great job to the soloists and it was great to talk to a few members and as always i meet some AMAZING parents from that school who are always respectful and love to talk about anything and i love that. For me, Totino Grace is the epitome of class and professionalism and deserved their win.
MOMENTUM- i love the show, i like what you were given by LD (which i was slighty afraid of...) but its fun! I think the opener and 2nd song should be switched... All The Things I Have Done is just an opener/closer piece. The sound was good, some times i lost ya but i feel a lot of bands covered up people during the day. The ballad, for having known it for 2 weeks, was beautiful. This isn't a tear jerker ballad, but it is beautiful and if anyone appreciates anything about music should love this song. The closer is the downer part of the show. Its a lot of fun, has a cool factor too it... but it doesn't POP. I know you are going to kick butt, just have some pictures to clean up and tighten up some choreo but i know you are going to do well, and I personally feel like you should have made finals over Davenport Central , and i talked to multiple people not assocaited with me or wash that agreed with me so keep your head high!
Sorry for the novel, if you have anything to ask or questions about what was said here PLEASE PM me. I am more then willing to expand on what i wrote And remember, this is all about personal opinion and show choir is subjective so if you don't agree with anything i said please speak up, i won't be upset by it
QUOTE (juliofrommississippi @ Jan 16 2011, 06:54 AM)
I disagree. I feel like judges put personal preferences in the day round and unfortunately I felt finals was not the competition it should be. I did not agree with day results, but that is why each individual has their own opinion.
Thank god for Kennedy, Jefferson, and Totino-Grace. Without these three choirs the finals would have been SO boring... lacking any personality or vocal quality. again, in my opinion.
Wow! This is a pretty bold thing to hear considering the groups under those three. I respect and agree with almost everything you say, so this makes me very excited to see some of these groups.
Wow... What a long, great day of Show Choir. I think the judges did a fantastic job at this competition. I have no complaints, except one:
PUT THIS COMPETITION IN THE GYM!!!
I disagree. I feel like judges put personal preferences in the day round and unfortunately I felt finals was not the competition it should be. I did not agree with day results, but that is why each individual has their own opinion.
Thank god for Kennedy, Jefferson, and Totino-Grace. Without these three choirs the finals would have been SO boring... lacking any personality or vocal quality. again, in my opinion.
That was lots of fun and great show choir. Though not as giant as years past, I believe that this finals group was as competitive as I've ever seen it!
Wow, sounds like an outstanding day at Linn Mar. Hats off to Totino Grace, being from Prairie, I know how outstanding Kennedy and Jeff always are. I hope to see some of these groups this year at Benton.
Company of Singers! Way to go!! congrat Miss Jillian!! you are so amazing!!!!!!!! I am absolutely dying because i am not there cheering for you guys!!!!
Linn-Mar Supernova 2011
but the rest of the show is just as good. I feel the next few competitions you are going to come into your own. Great sound and look, pictures were great. I was very impressed! great job 
