Note: Director information may be spotty. I wrote down the couple of references in the program and I'll try to get them if they're announced.
Theresa Weatherbee is the emcee for the first session.
California Heartland Chorus (package)
SAI, Region 11, Fresno, CA
Director - Rich Hasty
They were dressed as rowdy schoolboys, many of them in overalls that were too short for them. School is such a bore, so one of them suggested "Hey, guys, let's so swimming." They ran to a "Swimming Hole with a Fishing Pole", acting out all the fun activities they'd do there. The second part of the medley was "Barefoot Days". There was energy all over the stage. When their "pants got tore on the cellar door", the front row showed their tears, and Ma rushed in to sew them up. Next they wanted to go to the ballpark, but it had been torn down. They sang "There Used To Be a Ballpark" with a lot of emotion and inflection; the word "joy" sparkled as they sang it. As they recalled old "how they cheered" was so happy. The chorus did a splendid job of contrasting the happiness of yesterday with what's happening now.
A sorrowful tenor post set the mood for the tag. The next suggestion for fun: "Let's go jump a train". Now they're on their way home -- they're "Alabammy Bound". The song took off at a fast pace, and some of the chorus enjoyed acting the part 83-year-old Mrs. Jones. The song had a minor bridge section that I don't think I've ever heard. The stomp near the end was complete with a series of train movements to accentuate the accelerando.
London Men of Accord (small chorus)
SPEBSQSA, ONT
"Each Time I Fall In Love" was a tender ballad recalling a past love carried into the present.
The climax was gently passionate and sank back into quiet, showing the cyclical nature of falling in love. They adopted a playful pose for "You Make Me Feel So Young". When they began the chorus, they executed a number of springy steps to show their renewed youth.
I liked the hop on "INdividual". They singled out just one guy for "old and gray". They kept the energy up until the end, coming out into a V.
Northern Gateway (small chorus)
SPEBSQSA, LOL
The chorus was dressed in band uniforms. They sang a medley of "'Til There Was You" and "It's You". What a great bass section!
They segued from one song to the other on the word "you". It was a loving song and they sang it simply. After the second half of the medley, the song came back to "But I never felt love at all 'til there was you." The director disappeared behind the risers and started the chorus with a whistle in cadence. Row by row, the chorus removed their ripaway vests to show the rest of their uniform, and the director came out wearing a busby and holding a huge staff. For "76 Trombones", the chorus imitated a band, marching and holding imaginary instruments. The director/drum major was having a lot of fun, smiling the entire time. For the finale, the front row came out, marched behind the risers, picked up trombones and helmets and marched from the back of the risers down, drawing more applause.
Commodore Chorus (small chorus)
SPEBSQSA, M-AD
Director - Patty Leveille.
The verse of "Let the Rest of the World Go By" was dreamy, and when they moved to the chorus, it had a gentle waltz feel to it.
The chorus expressed a happy view of the near future. Their rich bass section was shown by their feature in the tag. They adopted a flippant pose to start off "You Make Me Feel So Young". They complemented the rhythmic texture of the song with dynamic texture. This gave the song a nimbleness to it.
Sweet Harmony (package)
HI, Area 4
"This Could Be The Start of Something Big" opened the show. In the voiceover, they announced a new look and a new director, and the next song is about him.
They went right into "Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia," dancing and singing on their own. About halfway through he decided to stroll in, mugging for the audience while the ladies did all the work. The next song looked back over a relationship: "I'd
Have Had to Miss The Dance". On "Dream a Little Dream" they sang the chorus in a flirty tone, and when they sang "blue as can be", they were going for sympathy.
Not wanting to leave and lose the moment, they slowed down the tag and held it out. As the director spoke to the audience of how nice the chorus was and they respected whoever was up front, the chorus was flashing the L for loser, making yakking motions, and rolling their eyes at him. They stopped when he looked back.
For the finale, a reprise of "This Could Be the Start of Something Big", the whole chorus poured off the risers to the front of the stage to say goodbye to the audience.
Metro Rhythm Chorus (package)
SAI, Region 15
It was the jail scene from "Chicago", and the year was 1922. Bars hung in front of the chorus, who were wearing flapper costumes.
Each of two ladies were involved in gunplay and were taken to jail. Reporter Susie Sunshine gave the synopses of the crimes.
They sang about one of the ladies, "Hard-Hearted Hannah". They got into "torture and kill....is her delight." Susie Sunshine hyped the trial of the century. On the stand, one of the defendants pleaded self-defense and wailed that she never got to say goodbye. The next song was a ballad that did just that, "I Will Love You 'Til The End of Time". Susie gave up journalism and stripped down to a flapper costume.
The ladies were found not guilty and urged to sing barbershop to show they mended they ways. To a soundtrack, the two pardoned criminals sang "Just Move On".
They
were powerful singers and drew a lot of applause. The chorus finished with "All That Jazz". The chorus danced and shimmied to the song with sexy movements.
OK, maybe I was wrong about the Cub Scout uniforms...
The Academy (package)
SPEBSQSA, SUN
As the curtain rose, two Cub Scouts and the scout master started a fire, the rest of the Scouts piled onto the risers, followed by one homesick scout who dropped his mess kit just as the chorus was ready to sing "Cub Scout Jamboree". They sang about earning badges and all the activities. They stomped around as they tried their hand (feet, really) at a box step. "Always be prepared".
The smallest Cub Scout brought a big chunk of wood down the risers to make a car from. The song was
a parody of "Daddy's Brown Derby" and dealt with the pinebox derby. The dad was going to help but ended up doing it all himself. So now Dad is competing in the pinebox derby. The front row formed a kickline, but the kid was being held up by the others, so he kicked without his legs touching the ground. "A cub scout must be...." Various adjectives were shouted, but the kid finished it off with "and hungry".
The lights were brought down on the stage, and the troop is sleepy. The kid is off to the side, napping on a bench and occasionally looking at a picture. The ballad was "My Daddy is Only a Picture". It's a sad song of a small boy trying to take Dad's place. That boy did a wonderful job acting out the tableau; that isn't easy.
Morning
came, and the scout master, bringing out a trumpet, blew reveille (snickerers, back to your corners), and got worn out from it. He tried a couple of bluesy riffs which set up the minor key for "Jericho". They sang with grim determination and for the final chorus came out at the audience in a V.
---
Chuck Wilson was the emcee for the afternoon session.
(They didn't mention package or small chorus for this session, so I'm
guessing...)
Sounds of Illinois Chorus
SPEBSQSA, ILL (package)
Director - Terry Ludwig
They began with "Sound Celebration" It was a good loud intro.
Normally I'm not a big fan of loud, but this worked. The voiceover during the song welcomed the audience.
I loved the final chord when the bass and bari dropped for an extra explosive sound.
A spokesman came out and led the group through "How to Build a Chorus". The parts were featured in bass, lead, tenor, bari order. As each part was featured, the other parts either dissed that part, or they wallowed in the enjoyment of their part and ignored all the others. Then all parts sang their verses together. When they tried to switch over to "Bye Bye Blues", though, they fell apart. Terry stepped up to straighten it out, and the next rendition of "Bye Bye Blues" was much better.
"Once Upon a Time" had a sweeping melody, which they enhanced with a sensitive use of softs. They have a big bass section (or a big-sounding one anyway).
"Where did it go?" began loud due to intensity of the emotion, then grew suddenly quiet to show the sadness. "Ring Out The Bells of Dixieland" completed the set, a celebration of returning home.
My favorite move they did was when they ran around wildly, which they did twice; it looked most heartfelt.
Big Sky Chorus (small chorus)
SPEBSQSA, RMD
The chorus adopted a thoughtful pose to set the mood for the verse of "There's a Ring to the Name of Rosie" so that they could contemplate what's in a name. After confessing to be "a real Romeo", they began a gentle barbershop sway at the top of the chorus.
The front row was featured in dance moves during the second chorus, but the rest of the chorus wasn't goofing off -- they supported their front row all the way with complementary moves.
Their second number "Across the Mason-Dixon Line" began
in a swing tempo, then switched to a driving uptune beat, changing the pace only to go into a stomp that accelerated right to the tag.
Vermillion Valley Show Chorus (package) SAI, Region 5
Director - Paula Martin (?)
The scene was a beauty pageant with the chorus dressed in evening gowns. The sashes all identify someone different: Miss Pronounce is on the nearest sash, and there was Miss Nomer and Miss Take. I admit looking for Miss Conceived, but I Missed her.
They started with "This Joint is Jumpin'". It was a high-energy romp without having the sound diminish. The front row paired up for a little swing dancing and near the end, the Charleston. Ooh, I got tingles on the tag. This pageant was the Miss Singing Buckeye Contest and they narrowed it down to three finalists, who were each asked a question.
Miss Behavin, who slinked up sensually to answer her question, the Miss Place, who was all for world peace, answered her question. Both involved groaner jokes, so I'll spare you. Miss Directed is the on the director's sash and she led the group talent part in the ballad "Where Are The Old Songs?" They grew soft recalling days past but grew loud with the excitement of reliving the songs. They sang with a yearning sound but also with hope. The third finalist, Miss Fortune, came up before being called; she knew ahead of time. To the driving beat produced by the bass section, they finished with "Fame". They portrayed confidence bordering on
arrogance: "Baby, remember my name....I'm gonna light up the sky".
But who won the pageant? I am on tenterhooks.
American Barberboys (package)
SPEBSQSA, CSD
Director - Byron Meyers, Jr.
They were dressed as English working-class men with dirty faces and gloves with the fingers cut out. Their first song was "As Long As She Needs Me". I got more tingles just as they started the chorus. There is the cutest little boy in the front row, and he's really getting into the song. The chorus showed their power on a unison "Right".
One of the guys was featured in dancing for the next song. "Get Me to the Church On Time". (The best way to describe this would be to download an MPEG, but I don't have one.) After a few clever steps by the intended groom, chorus members began moving boxes that were stacked up on the sides. The groom danced on the box,
then three boxes were set up sorta like an Olympic platform with the groom dancing on the highest of the three and a guy on either side of him. Then planks were added on top of boxes and more guys danced on that. It got higher and more involved until the groom was seated on one of a plank like a seesaw while a guy on the other side of the seesaw moved him up and down and around while the chorus rose and fell to accentuate the plank movement. The groom then leapt from a tall plank to the stage floor. I forgot to write all this down because I was so engrossed, so I had to remember it later. Next was a song "by the most favorite quartet, the Beatles."
It was "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da". A miked soloist came to the front while chorus was rocking behind him and providing vocal accompaniment. The director gasped at the extravagance of the $20 diamond ring. The audience was laughing and applauding at this point, so my viewing angle was preventing me from seeing something. For the next song, the lights dimmed and they removed their hats. I don't know the name of the song, so I'll call it "What Wondrous Love". The unison they started in was beautiful.
Next they broke into two-part with a lot of powerful root-fives in it. More and more parts were added -- it seemed like more than four -- until they had a rich vocal stew cooking. It had a classical feel to it. After this set, the audience gave them a standing ovation.
Columbus Chorus (package)
SAI, Region 4
Director - Mary Ann Guntzelman
They began their set with "Once Upon A Time", singing it with more careful contemplation than other interpretations I have heard. In their next song, they were constantly moving on "This Joint Is Jumpin'". They acted out the activities and added dynamics to remind us that this joint is illegal so quiet is sometime necessary. Definitely a high-energy performance. The accompaniment under the leads in "Lazy Day" had that bubble-gum pop feel and the 60's feel was enhanced by the use of a tambourine. For their final song, they brought out bongos, another wooden drum, and claves and added them to the tambourine.
"Let the River Rise" is, we think, the song title, and it's from "The Lion King".
A soloist called out to us from the very back row.
Lighthouse Chorus (small chorus)
SPEBSQSA, PIO
Director - Gene Hanover
The chorus set up the chorus of "Meet Me in Rosetime, Rose" really well by a great delivery of the verse. I like the nice soft they used at the start of the chorus as well.
Their ballad was "Who'll Take My Place?" They sang "what'll you do whenever you're blue" in a very thoughtful manner. This was a message, not a barbershop ballad, and they finished with pretty bell chords in the tag.
Men of Independence (package)
SPEBSQSA, JAD
Directors - David Smotzer and Tom Scott They were marching as the curtain opened. It was a classical-sounding march tune that I'll call "Sing Hallelujah Amen". It was very stirring. "Swanee" began slow and sexy, but the tempo sped up quickly as they reached the chorus. They executed strong movements, and this song certainly calls for it.
They drove that song hard all the way to the end, not giving an inch on intensity. Their ballad was about a lover who was untrue and he's left with only memories. Then the chorus began" "I'm All Alone".
(There's a verse?
I didn't know there was a verse) The song was quite sad, and they used pauses filled with emotion to underscore the loneliness. For the finale, there's a piano. One of the directors played it accompanied by a bass guitar, and the tune was "Pennies to Heaven". The chorus became a lots of Mel Tormes not willing to be upstaged by the piano, although they gave it a chance to shine on its own. The tag was sung unaccompanied with a final instrumental fill-in.
Harold Lathom gave the results. There were 488 performers. 179 SAIs, 23 HIs, and 286 BHSs.
Small Chorus 3 - Big Sky Chorus 2 - Commodore Chorus 1 - Northern Gateway Women's 3 - Metro Rhythm Chorus 2 - Columbus Chorus 1 - Vermillion Valley Show Chorus Men's 3 - Sounds of Illinois 2 - The Academy 1 - American Barberboys Entertainment 3 - Columbus Chorus 2 - The Academy 1 - American Barberboys Panel 3 - Columbus Chorus 2 - Vermillion Valley Show Chorus 1 - American Barberboys Overall 3 - Columbus Chorus 2 - Vermillion Valley Show Chorus 1 - American Barberboys (count of 62 and 1/2 people)
Jade Walker
jadewalker@mindspring.com