The 10th Anniversary season of Heart of America choir competitions kicked off March 7, in Nashville, Tenn. Eleven groups performed in prelims in the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center with five groups advancing to finals.
The day started early with bright blue skies and a promise of warmer weather in the southern town of Nashville. Known for its vibrant live music scene, the groups pulling into the resort were ready to show off their skills on the HOA stage.
“This was the first HOA event for Briarwood [Christian School] and it was excellent from start to finish.”
Kasey Mixon, Choral Director – Briarwood Christian School
New Hope MS, Columbus (MS) Encore kicked off the JR/Middle Division with their program, The Adventure Awaits. High energy and strong vocals gave the audience a vibrant start to the day. This was New Hope’s first HOA event. The Wildcat Jazz from Whitewater HS from Fayetteville (GA) pulled off a smooth stylistic program titled Wildcat Jazz Premiere. Wearing polka dot costumes and gloves, their cool style rounded out the Vocal Jazz Division.
The Treble Division started with a stellar performance by Karis from Briarwood Christian School, Birmingham (AL). Their program, Damsels, featured the group costumed in multiple Disney-inspired princess costumes. Their performance of I Will Rescue You and I’m a Survivor highlighted their powerful woman concept. Finishing up the division was Heat Wave from Hurricane HS, Hurricane (WV). The group glittered up the stage with multicolor, full-sequin jumpsuits as they presented Charlie’s Angels. This high-energy group of performers featured a solo dancer in pink during Mr. Big Shot. Featured on stage during the performance, the student band members showcased their talents during a costume change.
The morning session wrapped up with a wonderful performance by the Lumina Youth Choirs Lumina Amiaza from Tampa (FL). Beautiful harmonies and strong vocals lived up to their focus of developing healthy vocal production, a deeper understanding of music theory and experiencing core choral repertoire.
After lunch, it was time for the Open Show Choir Division. Greenfield-Central HS, Greenfield (IN) Legacy presented their inspiring program, Heroes. In only their fifth year of competition, this group used comic-book superheroes to explore societal norms, encouraging all to follow their own path. Costuming complete with capes was replaced with bright fuchsia sequin in this beautiful performance. The next ensemble, Take One from New Hope HS, Columbus (MS) ticked off a great performance of their program, Time. A strong repertoire of songs about time kept us on the journey of growing, living and loving.
The Championship Division was up next to complete the preliminary round. First up, Briarwood Christian School Radica, Birmingham (AL) and their show concept Midas. The program featured a King Midas character experiencing all the changes that occur while they make their way through life. They finished the show with an amazing rendition of Golden. Keeping that energy, Reveillon from Jackson Prep HS, Flowood (MS) brought their mystic presentation of the carnival character Zoltar. Attendees visited the booth hopeful for the golden ticket and the chance that their wish would come true. An emotional return of a friend off to war. His return took the audience on a roller coaster ride.
Indianola HS, Indianola (IA) Side One brought us to the front entrance of a circus tent. What was inside was nothing short of astonishing as we watched in amazement as a townsperson took the risk to walk on the tightrope. This incredible performance had us ready to join the circus. To complete prelims, Hurricane HS, Hurricane (WV) Red Hot retold the classic tale of A Christmas Carol with their program Scrooge. Lamp posts guided our focus from one featured performer to another and the band filled the stage for a high-energy dance break. When it was time for a change in the show, a sequential costume change from gold to red happened in seconds right in front of our eyes. You can watch the replay of prelims performances here.
The announcement of finalists gave the performers just enough time to change and get ready for their next big performance.
“The communication prior to the event was clear and timely,” said Kasey Mixon, Choral Director from Briarwood Christian School. “Your staff was professional and courteous from the moment we arrived. The space was perfect for an event of this magnitude. The sound and lighting were flawless. The backstage leadership solved problems effectively and was efficient throughout the day. The trophies are beautiful and I was so proud to take them to the office this morning to display them for the school to see. We will CERTAINLY be joining you again in the future,” she said.
Finalists, in order, included Jackson Prep HS Reveillon, Hurricane HS Heat Wave, Briarwood Christian School Radica, Indianola HS Side One and Hurricane HS Red Hot. Every group brought a new level of energy and intensity to the finals stage. At the end of the night, Hurricane HS Red Hot was named the overall Grand Champion. A complete list of the awards including highest achievement in prelims can be found here. Lyric Haskins from Briarwood Christian School was awarded as the Showchoir Camps of America Oustanding Soloist. The award includes a scholarship to a camp this coming summer. You can watch a replay of the finals performances here.
The HOA team is heading west for our exciting event in Los Angeles at the Disneyland Hotel. Can’t join us live? You can watch the entire day of performances for free thanks to a generous donation by Music Travel Consultants. Livestream Prelims Link Livestream Finals Link
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