Would love to see my Swingers Unlimited babies switch with Solon, but Solon seems to have another banner year in the making. If this were to happen I think Marysville with a more classic vocal would win. And honestly I think the next three places could be a toss up. Mt. Zion is having an Ok year, I've always been a huge Piqua fan, and Loveland is becoming a real Ohio force. Break a leg performers
Would love to see my Swingers Unlimited babies switch with Solon, but Solon seems to have another banner year in the making. If this were to happen I think Marysville with a more classic vocal would win. And honestly I think the next three places could be a toss up. Mt. Zion is having an Ok year, I've always been a huge Piqua fan, and Loveland is becoming a real Ohio force. Break a leg performers
Solon is having another banner year.
Mt. Zion is struggling a little bit.
Marysville and Piqua both have a tendency to slip a little as the season progresses. Cosby has been improving every year.
Loveland could surprise and place much higher.
Although that's technically possible, it's pretty obvious where most groups belong. There's no honor in sitting in a division you clearly outperform and just taking the trophy every year. Likewise, if you're a more modest-level group in a rebuilding phase, it's a little silly to ask you to compete where you're clearly outmatched.
We used divisions soley based on skill for the better part of three decades in California and it worked very well until they recently started splitting divisions based on choir size in combination with skill. There are more trophies to go around now (kinda), but they've decimated the numbers in each division, sometimes leaving just one or two choirs in a particular tier. I can see the argument from both sides of the issue, but it's still a broken system that needs rethinking. In either case, at the VERY least, choir size makes more sense than school size (to me).
Also, that's why you have divisions and don't take groups from every tier to finals. If you're good enough to make finals, then you belong in the upper division to begin with. Thus, sitting in a lower division just for an easy "win" would prevent you from moving on to the evening session and I think that alone would fix any problems with groups intentionally moving down (which rarely happened on the west coast even without finals in place).
Before someone flashes the "off topic" sign, I'll apologize in advance if anyone views this discussion as hijacking the thread - but I do think conversations like this are relevant and help to shape our activity for the better. The forum was created to promote healthy dialogue about what we do, and I think there are often things that individual events can highlight (often positive things!) that we can share to make the experience better for everyone. I wish more people engaged in the exchange of ideas. Anyway, back to the predictions (don't worry, I like those, too).
Fairfield's Crystal Classic is a little different when it comes to divisions, the registration form allows a group to decide if they want to compete in small or large mixed and has a finals round for each. This allows groups to compete where they feel they should based on where their group is that year. This can cause groups to jump down just to sweep their division, but not many groups actually do that. I feel like most groups want to compete where they will be challenged, whether it be large or small mixed.
And I apologize for staying on this topic instead of predictions
Hey guys! I just made an account, but I've been paying pretty good attention to whats been going on this season with the competitions I've visited and I'm SO excited to come watch all of the great choirs that will be performing at Northcoast this year! WICKED lineup.
Predictions:
GC: Solon "Music In Motion" (BV, BC, BB)
1RU: Mt. Zion "Swingsations"
2RU: Marysville "Swingers Unlimited"
3RU: Loveland "By Request"
4RU: Piqua "The Company"
5RU: Matoaca "High Impact"
Quite honestly, I think it will be a fight between Matoaca and Cosby for the 6th finals spot, I've heard great things about both shows this year. In addition, I could see Loveland maybe pulling ahead of Marysville if they truly bring it tomorrow.
Solon's vocals have always amazed me in previous years but they are TRULY rocking their vocals in their show this year; this will probably help them pull ahead in finals and take Grand Champion. As for Mt. Zion, I've heard wonderful things about their choreography so we'll see what tomorrow brings when Best Choreography is announced...I'm throwing BC to Solon but it could be a toss up.
Best of luck to all of the choirs competing tomorrow, so excited to watch!
I agree mostly! I think Solon could beat Mt. Zion! Also, Matoaca, Medina and Cosby could all take the last finals spot... Im actually thinking Cosby! Marysville All The Way!!!
GC Solon BV,BB, BC
1/2/3 RU Marysville,Mt Zion, Piqua
4RU Loveland
5RU Matoaca
Solon has already swept Marysville, Piqua, and Loveland this year and won BV and BB at all 4 of their competitions. It looks like this is their last competition of the season and I would expect them to really bring it. MT Zion is the only unknown and they have a great program. You know what they say though,on any given Sunday... wait thats football, on any given Saturday anything can happen. Good luck to all the choirs. It should be a great competition
I know Mt. Zion wants this really bad! And I believe that if they can sing as well as Solon they will come out on top! Mt.Zions show is extremely entertaining and the passion they have is incredible! I know they haven't had the year they've wanted, and that has made them work harder! Marysville show is just my life and I could watch it all day.. If it comes down to who entertains more Marysville and Mt. Zion has it on lock down. can't wait to hear all about this competition. Good luck to my Mt.Zion babies and to my friends from Solon
So ready to leave tomorrow morning!! This weekend is gonna be an awesome competition! Cannot wait to compete with all these great groups that are gonna be there!
Although that's technically possible, it's pretty obvious where most groups belong. There's no honor in sitting in a division you clearly outperform and just taking the trophy every year. Likewise, if you're a more modest-level group in a rebuilding phase, it's a little silly to ask you to compete where you're clearly outmatched.
We used divisions soley based on skill for the better part of three decades in California and it worked very well until they recently started splitting divisions based on choir size in combination with skill. There are more trophies to go around now (kinda), but they've decimated the numbers in each division, sometimes leaving just one or two choirs in a particular tier. I can see the argument from both sides of the issue, but it's still a broken system that needs rethinking. In either case, at the VERY least, choir size makes more sense than school size (to me).
Also, that's why you have divisions and don't take groups from every tier to finals. If you're good enough to make finals, then you belong in the upper division to begin with. Thus, sitting in a lower division just for an easy "win" would prevent you from moving on to the evening session and I think that alone would fix any problems with groups intentionally moving down (which rarely happened on the west coast even without finals in place).
Before someone flashes the "off topic" sign, I'll apologize in advance if anyone views this discussion as hijacking the thread - but I do think conversations like this are relevant and help to shape our activity for the better. The forum was created to promote healthy dialogue about what we do, and I think there are often things that individual events can highlight (often positive things!) that we can share to make the experience better for everyone. I wish more people engaged in the exchange of ideas. Anyway, back to the predictions (don't worry, I like those, too).
I didn't realize Cali splits up the divisions by choir size too now. I knew you guys did the divisions by talent but not choir size. Choir size is an interesting one to do because over the years I've known plenty of groups that are only around 35 members regularly beat groups that have 50+ members. I would think that choir size might be the least efficient way unless you have groups that have around 20-25 people and below.
I agree no matter what both ways of splitting up the divisions are inefficient, but I am happy that schools are trying to adjust it to figure out the best way to do it. Hopefully in the next few years we can get it close to being the best way to maximize the use of divisions.
I was actually going to apologize about the off topic discussion too. It is fun to hear how other areas function competition wise. It also is good to hear some background on how competitions were structured and how it is evolving.
In terms of this year's competitions I'll give my predictions, I'm rolling with:
GC: Solon (BV)
1ru: Marysville/ Mt. Zion (whichever one gets 2nd will get BC)
2RU: Mt. Zion/Marysville
3RU: Loveland
4RU: Piqua
5RU: Medina
I feel like Solon's vocals will carry them to the GC. I haven't seen Marysville this year but I have seen Mt. Zion twice. I love their show but it seems like they are a younger group this year. I did think the hunger games is a cool idea for a theme and as always they dance the living crap out of their show.
Although that's technically possible, it's pretty obvious where most groups belong. There's no honor in sitting in a division you clearly outperform and just taking the trophy every year. Likewise, if you're a more modest-level group in a rebuilding phase, it's a little silly to ask you to compete where you're clearly outmatched.
We used divisions soley based on skill for the better part of three decades in California and it worked very well until they recently started splitting divisions based on choir size in combination with skill. There are more trophies to go around now (kinda), but they've decimated the numbers in each division, sometimes leaving just one or two choirs in a particular tier. I can see the argument from both sides of the issue, but it's still a broken system that needs rethinking. In either case, at the VERY least, choir size makes more sense than school size (to me).
Also, that's why you have divisions and don't take groups from every tier to finals. If you're good enough to make finals, then you belong in the upper division to begin with. Thus, sitting in a lower division just for an easy "win" would prevent you from moving on to the evening session and I think that alone would fix any problems with groups intentionally moving down (which rarely happened on the west coast even without finals in place).
Before someone flashes the "off topic" sign, I'll apologize in advance if anyone views this discussion as hijacking the thread - but I do think conversations like this are relevant and help to shape our activity for the better. The forum was created to promote healthy dialogue about what we do, and I think there are often things that individual events can highlight (often positive things!) that we can share to make the experience better for everyone. I wish more people engaged in the exchange of ideas. Anyway, back to the predictions (don't worry, I like those, too).
I agree 100%.
Go Cosby and Matoaca! lol (thought I'd throw in some on-topic love)
I agree that splitting it by talent is a great way to go but that is not full proof either. Some groups could be content on dominating a lower division if their director feels they would not gain as much success in the higher division.
Although that's technically possible, it's pretty obvious where most groups belong. There's no honor in sitting in a division you clearly outperform and just taking the trophy every year. Likewise, if you're a more modest-level group in a rebuilding phase, it's a little silly to ask you to compete where you're clearly outmatched.
We used divisions soley based on skill for the better part of three decades in California and it worked very well until they recently started splitting divisions based on choir size in combination with skill. There are more trophies to go around now (kinda), but they've decimated the numbers in each division, sometimes leaving just one or two choirs in a particular tier. I can see the argument from both sides of the issue, but it's still a broken system that needs rethinking. In either case, at the VERY least, choir size makes more sense than school size (to me).
Also, that's why you have divisions and don't take groups from every tier to finals. If you're good enough to make finals, then you belong in the upper division to begin with. Thus, sitting in a lower division just for an easy "win" would prevent you from moving on to the evening session and I think that alone would fix any problems with groups intentionally moving down (which rarely happened on the west coast even without finals in place).
Before someone flashes the "off topic" sign, I'll apologize in advance if anyone views this discussion as hijacking the thread - but I do think conversations like this are relevant and help to shape our activity for the better. The forum was created to promote healthy dialogue about what we do, and I think there are often things that individual events can highlight (often positive things!) that we can share to make the experience better for everyone. I wish more people engaged in the exchange of ideas. Anyway, back to the predictions (don't worry, I like those, too).
Twinsburg Northcoast Invitational 2013
You should apply to be an SCA counselor!! And how are there not prelim results yet?
iqua
