QUOTE(MTZ dad @ Jan 21 2008, 12:31 PM) [snapback]413036[/snapback]
Once again the Troy Prep group swept that Division and rightly so. They truly are one of the best Prep groups around.
What was troy's prep group's show. I saw that they got ninth over all. I saw them at sullivan last year when they made finals and was impressed. I am looking foward to seeing them along with express at chicogoland this year
QUOTE(stevesing85 @ Jan 22 2008, 08:18 AM) [snapback]413241[/snapback]
dwight Jordan, jeff jordan, ellie jordan and jeff Gemar was right behind me!!!!! I got a chance to talk to Dwight and Jeff Gemar during finals.b]
I saw you in the crowd, but didn't get a chance to come over and say "Hey!" What did you think of all the shows? And are you going back to SCA Millikin this year?
QUOTE(osumondo @ Jan 20 2008, 10:09 PM) [snapback]412885[/snapback]
in other news, does anyone have the order form and/or contact info for the video company? please acquiesce my quasi-laziness and post it
QUOTE(Jorge @ Jan 21 2008, 02:58 PM) [snapback]413023[/snapback]
I feel that everyone needs to order the recording of finals from Rutherford Video... this competition was seriously intense, and every group who made finals is worth seeing!
i'm trying, i'm trying... actually put some legwork in this time, but there is no website to my knowledge for rutherford video.
request #2 for the video order form from MTZ submitted here for your approval.
As a newly retired Swings Dad, here are my Invitational observations from my "first time" gymnasium chair, after 10 years of working it!!!
It was quite enjoyable watching the Tallassee, AL Gold Edition's first time appearance at Mt Zion. I had them scoring much higher than their placing.
Sullivan had a Great day in Mt Zion, with New Generation sweeping the Single-Gender Division, their male soloist taking the solo competition, and the Sullivan Singers performing so well. Missed seeing the Sullivan Jr's on Friday night, but I am sure they will be back next year.
Once again the Troy Prep group swept that Division and rightly so. They truly are one of the best Prep groups around. The Troy middle school appeared for the first time on Friday night, and they were a lot of fun to watch. Hopefully they will make Mt Zion a permanent yearly tradition, like their high school choirs have done!!! Troy Express does rock and roll like no one else, and it was fun to hum along with them as they performed!!
Milton Choralation opened up the Mixed Division with their first appearance in Mt Zion and all I can say is "WOW"!!! What a powerful show. They will have a great season this year!!! Actually one of my very favorites of the day!!!
Davenport West would certainly have made finals in a normal year. 2008 just happened to have a very strong line-up that knocked out a few choirs that will not miss another finals all year. Their comedy Spelling Bee was a joy to watch, and I am not a big novelty number kind of guy!!
Wheaton was everything everyone gushed about after Onalaska. A highly entertaining performance that was strong in all categories. And, I might add, a great group of parents!!
Okay, I too will jump on the Waubonsie Wagon!!! Their show is probably one of the most intense and powerful performances I have ever seen. There is absolutely no let up from beginning to end, and from top riser to floor!!! Those kids sell every single number, that by the time they sing their last note, the audience is almost as drained as the performers. Kudo's to the entire choir for a job very well done.
EEE performed so well at finals, that I thought they might have pulled out another championship. Certainly their combo is one of the tops in the country!!!
Now, I have to comment on my very favorite performance of the day and night. I feel that the Twinsburg Great Expectations brings something to the stage that no one else has every touched.....and that is a powerful themed show each and every year. From the year of "Pressure", through the "Water Show" and now "Chronology", I cannot say enough about how they perfectly perform that one theme from beginning to end. Their "best dressed" directors really know how to pick the topic, then choose the songs and then coordinate the choreography for a "full meal deal"!!! I was once again so very glad that they made the long trek to Mt Zion and certainly had them placing much higher!!!
I feel that everyone needs to order the recording of finals from Rutherford Video... this competition was seriously intense, and every group who made finals is worth seeing!
Wow... to see some of those groups perform was simply amazing. I'm just in a prep group now but someday I hope to be in Connection or even in a college group better than that. Some of those performances were breath-taking. I'm just a little dissapointed by Harmonics standings, but I'm sure Troy Buchannon had a good show too. West Harmonics and Troy were the only two prep groups at Mt. Zion, so at least we got 1st runner up
QUOTE(shwchrlvr04 @ Jan 20 2008, 10:52 PM) [snapback]412922[/snapback]
Waubonsie...your group was amazing! I couldn't take my eyes off the two black girls in your group...they were absolutely PHENOMENAL to watch.
Haha! Britney and Tee!!!
I love them SOOO much!
You know, there's some people in our show choir (those 2 are definitely WAY up there in that list) that are just so amazing and energetic...
Just standing behind them or even close to them makes everyone wanna give it their all, all the time!
They just pass all this AMAZING energy around, and it's simply incredible!
I love them so much!!!
"Never knew you were considered a Troy "hater". I personally also enjoyed their show very much at Mt Zion. I love when groups do familiar music. It's so much easier to get into the performance. Their medley was "American Band, Nothin' But a Good Time, and Rock and Roll All Night" Very entertaining! I believe their ballad soloist won for best male solo. Great job also by the trio in the closer. Lots of great choirs in a stellar competition that was awesome to watch!!"
I am glad you guys really liked the show! i like it alot too!
Never knew you were considered a Troy "hater". I personally also enjoyed their show very much at Mt Zion. I love when groups do familiar music. It's so much easier to get into the performance. Their medley was "American Band, Nothin' But a Good Time, and Rock and Roll All Night" Very entertaining! I believe their ballad soloist won for best male solo. Great job also by the trio in the closer. Lots of great choirs in a stellar competition that was awesome to watch!!
QUOTE(Jorge @ Jan 20 2008, 04:15 PM) [snapback]412839[/snapback]
Judge's Scores Of Preliminary Round-
Marty DeMott-
1st- Eisenhower (111)
2nd- Sullivan (110.5)
3rd- Wheaton Warrenville (108.5)
4th- Waubonsie Valley (108)
5th- Onalaska (103.5)
6th- Davenport West (102)*TIE
6th- Twinsburg (102)*TIE
8th- Troy (101)
9th- Neenah (99)
10th- Crete Monee (94.5)
11th- Manteno (94)
12th- Milton (92.5)
13th- Pekin (84)
14th- Herscher (81)
Well let me first say… I am soooo thankful for the beautiful Ana Kraemer for #1- Posting my thoughts/some scores… and #2- staying on the phone with me late at night to deliver me from the evil area known as "Mt. Zion / Decatur" and gave me directions home. She's a peach… and we had a VERY fun day, even if she was really 9 hours away, we had some lovely phone conversations.
This competition was INTENSE! It's great going to TWO major powerhouse competitions two weeks in a row and coming out of it thinking, "Wow, I just saw some of the best groups and shows I have ever seen in my life" and… "I really agree with how it all ended up!" I love that feeling.
Waubonsie Valley will again be a force to be reckoned with. Their opener is just STUNNING. (Here is the song on YouTube-OPENER ). Their intensity in choreography… their excellence in rich complex vocals… and their all out fantastic energy is just a recipe for world domination… I mean… success. The ballad is "Listen", and the soloist sounds just like Beyonce (maybe even better?). They also performed a "Polka Novelty" (I.E. Milton 2000, Burbank 2004)… new songs in it though. The show is just fantastic… had Mt. Zion listed songs in the program (they did not), I'd post the rest of it… but I'm sure some one will. It's hard to critique a show that left me thinking, "Am I in show choir heaven?" If you can get to a competition to see these guys… do it. I'm going to predict a perfect season for them.
Wheaton Warrenville's day show was pretty weak compared to their stellar performances at Onalaska last week. But they certainly turned it up at night… the ballad once again moved me (still, the first time was the best). It's the 4th time I've seen the show now, and I'm really excited to see how the rest of your season goes.
Eisenhower stepped up their game to an even higher level since Onalaska. Their vocals were so powerful. Their choreography was the cleanest of the day (judges thought so too). I just can't get over the level of sincerity in each performer on stage. They give 110% while performing, and it's just wonderful.
Sullivan had some wonderful vocals! They were VERY ready to compete. Their choreography at the beginning of the show was very crisp and clean. They're lifts are so neat! They ended with an Eagle's medley using their plasma screen TVs. This is only my second time seeing Sullivan live (2006), and I preferred this show. They WILL have a good season.
Troy. Troy Troy Troy. I've been labeled as the "Troy Hater". Sorry to disappoint, but… I really enjoyed the show. It's the first show done by Troy since 2003 that I have actually really liked. The vocals were full and great. The ballad, "February Song" by Josh Groban, was gorgeous. The closer is WICKED fun (Some kind of rock medley, Sorry I don't remember). People all around me were moving to the music. The costumes were really cool as well.
Twinsburg's show was not appealing to me in day round. Their vocals were a bit off, and their choreography was patchy. I found it to be a bit dry and I tended to space out (I was thinking about the future? Haha) At night, they turned it around and did a fantastic job. I appreciated more of the songs (the opener and ballad especially). Their one song that maybe is a novelty was cleaner choreographically at night than it was in the day. I'm really glad they made the trip out.
I'm VERY pleased with Davenport West's performance. I was hoping for a 7th or 8th place finish and am satisfied that we attained that.
Their show is-
"Le Jazz Hot"
"I've Got The World On A String"
"I'm Always Chasing Rainbows / Over The Rainbow"
"Spelling Bee"
"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"
I hope the audience enjoyed the performance as much as the kids did performing it for them.
uiucboy… would you happen to be the random audience member selected? (I heard Josh from Manteno, and was like "OMG!?!? How freaky? Is it him? It looks like him?" But I never knew officially.)
Thoughts and critiques from people are wanted!!!
RANKINGS IN FINALS
Marty DeMott-
1st- Waubonsie Valley
2nd- Wheaton Warrenville
3rd- Sullivan
4th- Eisenhower
5th- Troy
6th- Twinsburg
Dave Fehr-
1st- Eisenhower (111)
2nd- Sullivan (110.5)
3rd- Wheaton Warrenville (108.5)
4th- Waubonsie Valley (108)
5th- Onalaska (103.5)
6th- Davenport West (102)*TIE
6th- Twinsburg (102)*TIE
8th- Troy (101)
9th- Neenah (99)
10th- Crete Monee (94.5)
11th- Manteno (94)
12th- Milton (92.5)
13th- Pekin (84)
14th- Herscher (81)
Well let me first say… I am soooo thankful for the beautiful Ana Kraemer for #1- Posting my thoughts/some scores… and #2- staying on the phone with me late at night to deliver me from the evil area known as "Mt. Zion / Decatur" and gave me directions home. She's a peach… and we had a VERY fun day, even if she was really 9 hours away, we had some lovely phone conversations.
This competition was INTENSE! It's great going to TWO major powerhouse competitions two weeks in a row and coming out of it thinking, "Wow, I just saw some of the best groups and shows I have ever seen in my life" and… "I really agree with how it all ended up!" I love that feeling.
Waubonsie Valley will again be a force to be reckoned with. Their opener is just STUNNING. (Here is the song on YouTube-OPENER ). Their intensity in choreography… their excellence in rich complex vocals… and their all out fantastic energy is just a recipe for world domination… I mean… success. The ballad is "Listen", and the soloist sounds just like Beyonce (maybe even better?). They also performed a "Polka Novelty" (I.E. Milton 2000, Burbank 2004)… new songs in it though. The show is just fantastic… had Mt. Zion listed songs in the program (they did not), I'd post the rest of it… but I'm sure some one will. It's hard to critique a show that left me thinking, "Am I in show choir heaven?" If you can get to a competition to see these guys… do it. I'm going to predict a perfect season for them.
Wheaton Warrenville's day show was pretty weak compared to their stellar performances at Onalaska last week. But they certainly turned it up at night… the ballad once again moved me (still, the first time was the best). It's the 4th time I've seen the show now, and I'm really excited to see how the rest of your season goes.
Eisenhower stepped up their game to an even higher level since Onalaska. Their vocals were so powerful. Their choreography was the cleanest of the day (judges thought so too). I just can't get over the level of sincerity in each performer on stage. They give 110% while performing, and it's just wonderful.
Sullivan had some wonderful vocals! They were VERY ready to compete. Their choreography at the beginning of the show was very crisp and clean. They're lifts are so neat! They ended with an Eagle's medley using their plasma screen TVs. This is only my second time seeing Sullivan live (2006), and I preferred this show. They WILL have a good season.
Troy. Troy Troy Troy. I've been labeled as the "Troy Hater". Sorry to disappoint, but… I really enjoyed the show. It's the first show done by Troy since 2003 that I have actually really liked. The vocals were full and great. The ballad, "February Song" by Josh Groban, was gorgeous. The closer is WICKED fun (Some kind of rock medley, Sorry I don't remember). People all around me were moving to the music. The costumes were really cool as well.
Twinsburg's show was not appealing to me in day round. Their vocals were a bit off, and their choreography was patchy. I found it to be a bit dry and I tended to space out (I was thinking about the future? Haha) At night, they turned it around and did a fantastic job. I appreciated more of the songs (the opener and ballad especially). Their one song that maybe is a novelty was cleaner choreographically at night than it was in the day. I'm really glad they made the trip out.
I'm VERY pleased with Davenport West's performance. I was hoping for a 7th or 8th place finish and am satisfied that we attained that.
Their show is-
"Le Jazz Hot"
"I've Got The World On A String"
"I'm Always Chasing Rainbows / Over The Rainbow"
"Spelling Bee"
"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"
I hope the audience enjoyed the performance as much as the kids did performing it for them.
uiucboy… would you happen to be the random audience member selected? (I heard Josh from Manteno, and was like "OMG!?!? How freaky? Is it him? It looks like him?" But I never knew officially.)
Thoughts and critiques from people are wanted!!!
RANKINGS IN FINALS
Marty DeMott-
1st- Waubonsie Valley
2nd- Wheaton Warrenville
3rd- Sullivan
4th- Eisenhower
5th- Troy
6th- Twinsburg
Dave Fehr-
Mt. Zion Midwest Invitational 2008
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