Norwell Show Choirs Tops Again!

Hats off to another great weekend for Norwell's show choirs!

 

Norwell’s Knight Moves and Knight Stars extended their unbeaten show choir seasons at the First Northridge Choral Invitational in Middlebury Saturday.

 

In the still sparkling new, two-year-old Northridge High School auditorium, the Knight Moves out-pointed Concord, Fairfield, Lakeland, Loveland and North Side to push their season record to 19-0. The Knight Stars topped Fairfield in a two-choir race in the Women’s Division to stand 15-0 for the season from their three competitions. Two Women’s Division caption awards were also  awarded, with Norwell winning both Best Choreography and  Best Vocals.  

 

Norwell also excelled in solo competition, with Lauren Fiechter placing first, and Missy Nolan third. 

 

The Norwell Middle School Choir, the Knight Sounds, also opened its competition season at the event, placing second behind Loveland, which also took both caption awards in this division. Also in the division were Eastside and Woodside.       

 

Best performers for Norwell were Missy Nolan (Knight Stars), Brandi Albright (Knight Moves) and Emily Lampton (Knight Sounds).

 

This weekend, the Knight Moves and Knight Stars head south to compete at Shelbyville. 

 

Thanks to Denny and Kathy Meyer for the photos and results. 

Photos From Saturday's Norwell Percussion Invitational (Visitors - Set 3)

Frm top to bottom, Heritage Independent, competing in the PIA class, DeKalb and Decatur Central, who competed against Norwell in the PSO class, and Victor J. Andrew from Illinois, who competed in the PSW class.

 

From smallest to biggest, the marching drum line classes are PSAA, PSA, PSO and PSW. PIA is a separate class for "independent" (not officially affiliated to a high school) groups.

Photos From Saturday's Norwell Percussion Invitational (Visitors - Set 2)

From top to bottom, Bishop Dwenger, Carroll, Winchester and Maconoquah high schools compete in the PSA division.

 

Photos From Saturday's Norwell Percussion Invitational (Visitors - Set 1)

First of all, the difference between "marching drum lines" and "concert drum lines", as demonstrated by Hagerstown Indoor Percussion Ensemble (black uniforms with a green circle) and Monroe Central Percussion Ensemble (a concert group).

 

The marching drum lines incorporate a lot of movement, and even some dance into their routine, while the concert group concentrates on just the musical side of the performance. 

Norwell Photos From Saturday's Percussion Invitational

I can't believe it's taken me this long to start posting some of the photos from Saturday either - it's been one of those weeks!

 

I'll at least get these Norwell pics up for now.  Hopefully some from the visiting schools will follow shortly. 

Norwell Percussion Invitational Videos

Two clips here of each of Norwell, Dekalb and Decatur Central all from the PSO class. Photos to follow.  

 

The full story is in Monday's News-Banner, and will also be in this week's Ossian Journal. 

Norwell Show Choirs Win Again - At Center Grove This Week

Norwell's Knight Moves and Knight Stars cleaned house in the 22nd annual “Best of the Midwest” show choir competition at Center Grove High School in Greenwood on Saturday.

 

The Knight Moves outpointed eight schools at Center Grove to take the Small Mixed Choir division title, while the Knight Stars topped six in the Women’s division - a reversal of the numbers at their season openers at Northrop two weeks ago.  Both choirs are therefore 14-0 against other choirs for the season. 

In the Small Mixed division, the Knight Moves headed off Whiteland and New Palestine, with Anderson Central, Austin, Churubusco, Roncalli, Shelbyville and Woodlan making up the numbers. No caption awards were announced in this division.  

 

In the Women’s division, the Knight Stars edged out Lawrence Central and Fairfield, Ohio, with Anderson Highland, New Palestine, Princeton, and Zionsville making up the field. Norwell also won the caption awards for Best Vocals and Best Costume in this division. Lawrence Central won Best Choreography, while Anderson Highland won Best Stage Crew. 

 

No individual awards were given in either division.

 

This weekend, Norwell travels to Tippacanoe to compete at the Northridge High School Invitational. The middle school choir, the Knight Sounds, will be joining the two high school choirs for its first competition of the season. 

 

Many thanks to Denny and Kathy Meyer for the photo. 

Upcoming Brew Ha! Events

Artists of the Month: 

 

Patty Hatfield and Deb Charleston are displaying their stained  glass pieces, including hangings, bowls, picture frames, jewelry, wine glasses and other home pieces. There will not be an "Open House" this month as the artists are fully committed, but you can see their work throughout the month.

 

Saturday, Feb. 20:

 

From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. there will be an open mic night. If you're not at Norwell's Drum Line Invitational, then hopefully you will be here to support our area's talented musicians and performers. 

 

Friday: Feb. 26:

 

From 7 to 9 p.m. Kyle Hinshaw will be performing his music. 

 

Upcoming Community Group Fundraisers:

 

Fundraisers are held one per month, on a Sunday afternoon, with three one-hour settings. The first runs from 3 to 4 p.m., then 4 to 5 p.m. and finally 5 to 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased, and other information obtained, through the group involved as follows:   

 

March 14: Bluffton Mother of Pre-Schoolers - Phone Julie Merideth on 409-9079

April 11: Dollars  For Scholars - Phone Kathy Nahrwold on 705-6257  

It's all happening at the Brew Ha! in Ossian, on Ind. 1 as you drive through town. 

Check Below For Show Choir Videos

Just in case you haven't noticed, some video clips from the Norwell Show Choir Invitational have been loaded, but the post has appeared below some of the photos, so you may have to scroll down to find them.

Enjoy!  

Norwell Drum Line Invitational Schedule Announced

Norwell’s winter drum line 2010 season has started with a vengeance!

 

A season opening raid down south last weekend saw Norwell place third at Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis, narrowly pipped by the hosts and also Plainfield. 

 

This weekend, Norwell will be on its home turf, with the annual Norwell Drum Line Invitational taking place in the high school gymnasium Saturday afternoon. 

 

In all, 27 groups will be participating Saturday - the number boosted through recent bad weather preventing bands from attending previously scheduled engagements, and now looking for extra competitions to attend. 

 

Of the 27 groups, 25 bands will be competing in nine different classes, while Indiana Wesleyan and also the Adams Central Winter Guard will provide exhibition performances of their respective competition routines.  

 

The action will start at 4 p.m., with the awards ceremony scheduled for 9 p.m., at the conclusion of all competition, and also two exhibition performances from Indiana Wesleyan and also the Adams Central Winterguard. Norwell, competing in the PSO class against DeKalb and Decatur Central, will take to the floor at 7:20 p.m. 

 

The full schedule is as follows:

PSAA Division:

4 p.m.: Plymouth

4:09 p.m.: Eastern

4:18 p.m. Yorktown

4:27 p.m. Hagerstown

PSCA Division:

4:41 p.m.: Plymouth “B”

4:50 p.m.: Knox

4:59 p.m.: Fairfield

5:08 p.m.: Leo

5:17 p.m.: Monroe Central  

5:26 p.m.: Twin Lakes

PSA Division:

5:40 p.m. Maconaquah

5:49 p.m.: Winchester

5:58 p.m.: Carroll

6:07 p.m.: Bishop Dwenger

PIA Division:

6:16 p.m.: Heritage Independent

PSCO Division:

6:35 p.m.: Westfield

6:45 p.m. Elkhart Memorial

6:55 p.m.: Warsaw Community

7:05 p.m.: Northridge

PSO Division:

7:20 p.m.: Norwell

7:30 p.m.: DeKalb

7:40 p.m.: Decatur Central

PIO Division:

7:50 p.m.: Breach of Silence

PSCW Division:

8:05 p.m.: Goshen

PSW Division:

8:16 p.m. Victor J. Andrew (Illinois) 

Exhibition Performances:

8:27 p.m.: Indiana Wesleyan University

8:38 p.m.: Adams Central Winter Guard 

Norwell Show Choir Invitational - Exhibition Performances

As host choir, the Norwell Knight Moves and Knight Stars weren't allowed to actually compete at the Norwell Invitational, but they did provide exhibition performances for their respective 2010 competition routines. 

 

This Saturday both choirs will be in Indianapolis, competing at Center Grove. 

Norwell Show Choir Invitational - Mixed Choir Division

Homestead, Plainfield, Chesterton and Center Grove, pictured above from bottom to top, and also Columbia City, contested this division. (I did take photos of Columbia City but they, along with most of the best action shots from the night, didn't turn out so good - a horror night for my still photography. I'm hoping the video clips will help make up for it!)

 

Being the only small mixed choir in attendance, Columbia City was named champion in the Small Mixed Division, and competed against the larger choirs in the evening event. Chesterton placed second runner up, Plainfield was first runner-up, and Center Grove took the top honors.

 

Caption awards were shared around in this division. Plainfield took Best Stage Crew, while Chesterton took Best Instrumentals and Best Male Soloist (Curtis Lindsig). Center Grove claimed Best Vocals, Best Female Soloist (Liz Brown) and Best Choreography. 

Norwell Show Choir Invitational - Women's Division

Seven schools contested this division - Homestead, Eastbrook, Chesterton, Center Grove, Plainfield, Columbia City and Lafayette Jefferson. 

 

The three finalists, pictured from bottom to top above, were Chesterton (2nd runner-up), Lafayette Jefferson (1st runner-up) and Center Grove (Champion). 

 

Chesterton captured the caption award for Best Instrumentals, while Center Grove scooped Best Vocals, Best Stage Crew, Best Choreography, and Best Soloist (Kaitlyn Hector).

Norwell Show Choir Invitational - Videos

We had to split some of the videos into two to get  them to load. I hope this doesn't spoil your enjoyment. 

Center Grove Scoops Awards at Norwell Show Choir Invitational

Center Grove pretty much stole the show at the 20th Annual Norwell Show Choir Invitational Saturday, winning all four divisions in which they competed. 

 

More pics and video will follow over the course of the next few days. A full report from the show is in today's (Monday) News-Banner.

  

  

Norwell Drumline Places Third at Season Opener

Norwell's Drumline placed third in its first competition of the season, traveling to Decatur Central High School for their invitational. 

 

Norwell was narrowly edged out of top spot by Decatur Central and Plainfield. 

 

Band members collecting Saturday's trophy above are Michael Brown, Mallory Elmore, Caleb Grover and Tanner Tuttle. 

 

Norwell will be hosting its annual Invitational this weekend.  A full preview will be in the News-Banner later in the week. 

 

Thanks to Deb Grover for the photos. 

Schedule For Saturday's Norwell Show Choir Invitational

The full performance schedule for the 20th Annual Norwell Invitational is listed below. A full preview story is in Friday's News-Banner.

The Women’s, Concert Choir, and Middle School divisions will all be held in the high school auditorium. The Mixed Choir Division and the evening program will be held in the high school gymnasium. At approximately 5 p.m. in the gymnasium, a preliminary awards presentation will take place along with the announcement of the choirs and soloists that have progressed to the evening session. The final awards will be presented at the conclusion of the evening session, and are scheduled to begin at approximately 11:30 p.m.

Note that there is a $12 admission fee for the full day, or $8 each for only the morning or evening sessions. Lunch and dinner will be served in the cafeteria, but is not included in the cost of admission. 

Women’s Division:

9:10 - Homestead

9:45 - Eastbrook

10:20 - Chesterton

10:55 - Center Grove

11:30 - Plainfield

12:05 - Columbia City

4 - Lafayette Jefferson (after the conclusion of the Middle School competition)

Mixed Choir Division:

1 - Southwestern

1:35 - Homestead

2:10 - Chesterton

2:45 - Plainfield

3:20 - Columbia City

3:55 - Center Grove

4:30 - Norwell “Knight Moves” (Exhibition only) 

 

Concert Choir Division:

1:30 - Center Grove

Middle School Division: 

2 - Norwell “Knight Sounds” (Exhibition only)

2:30 - Edgewood Jr. High

3 - Miami Middle School

3:30 - Indian Springs

Evening Session: 

6:30 - Solo competition finalists (3 performers)

7:00 - Women’s Choir Finalists (3 choirs)

8:30 - Mixed Choir Finalists (6 choirs)

11 - Norwell Knight Stars (Exhibition)

11:30 Final awards presentation. 

Watch for photos and video from the competition next week on our Showtime blog at www.news-banner.com.

Thanks to Denny and Kathy Meyer for providing the photo accompanying this post (showing Norwell's Knight Moves during last weekend's winning performance at Northrop).  

Norwell's 2010 Show Choirs

The Knight Moves, Knight Stars and Knight Sounds will all be performing exhibitions of their 2010 competition routine at Saturday's 20th Annual Norwell Show Choir Invitational. 

Performance times will be posted when they become available. 

 

Thanks to Denny and Kathy Meyer for the three photos. 

Norwell Preparing For 20th Annual Show Choir Invitational Saturday

Usually, inclement weather is an event organiser’s worst nightmare.

And while this week weather issues may be causing more than a few scheduling headaches for the organizers of this weekend’s Norwell Show Choir Invitational, it appears that the net result will be a larger than expected turnout. 

Last weekend, Norwell’s own plans to travel south to Anderson had to be shelved due to the weather, and they instead travelled north, to scoop the awards at Northrop. Area schools facing similar weather concerns this weekend, are now looking to Norwell’s event as their best option. 

As host school, Norwell’s three show choirs are unable to compete this weekend, however, the Knight Moves (Mixed Choir), Knight Stars (Women’s Choir) and Knight Sounds (Middle School Choir) will all perform exhibitions of their 2010 competition routine.  

Last year, Northrop’s Charisma (pictured above at last year's event) edged out the Chesterton Sandpipers, complete with their dancing camel, to claim the Grand Champion award. Whiteland’s Rhythm Masters outpointed Bluffton’s Musical Entourage in the Small Mixed Choir division, while Indian Springs’ City Stars edged out Southern Wells’ Raider Rhythm in the middle school division. 

This year, the Solo Division will certainly crown a new champion. Last year’s winner, Megan Meyer of Homestead has graduated. Chesterton’s Kaylee Annable placed first runner-up last year as a junior, and she has to be the one to beat in 2010.

Saturday’s full schedule will be posted when it becomes available.

Norwell Overcome Elements To Win At Northrop

The weekend weather played havoc with show choir competition scheduling, but it couldn’t prevent Norwell’s two show choirs from both taking top honors. 

At the start of the weekend, Bluffton and Southern Wells were supposed to travel north to Northrop, while Norwell headed south to Anderson. Bluffton and Southern Wells both withdrew due to the weather conditions, and Norwell's choirs were told they couldn’t travel south for the same reason.

 

So instead, the Knight Moves and Knight Stars headed to Northrop, and took over the show up there.

In all, three schools had withdrawn from the Northrop event, so there was plenty of room for Norwell on the program. Turnout was still strong however, with seven choirs, including one from West Virginia, contesting the Small Mixed division, and nine in the Women’s Division. 

The Knight Stars edged out DeKalb and Franklin Central in the Women’s Division, while Bishop Dwenger, Bishop Luers, Carroll, Columbia City, Garrett and Homestead completed the field, to put Norwell at 8-0 for the season.   

In the Small Mixed competition, the Knight Moves edged out Churubusco and Bishop Dwenger. Columbia City, Lakeland, Ravenswood, W.V., and Woodland rounded out the competition. Norwell stand at 6-0 for the season. 

Norwell also experienced success in the Solo Division competition, with Blake Lampton placing second in that competition. 

Only two special awards were announced, both in the Women’s Division, with Norwell taking both Best Choreography and Best Vocals. Winning Best Performer awards in each of the two Norwell choirs were Paige Meyer (Knight Moves) and Addie Johnson (Knight  Stars).

 

This coming weekend, Norwell host the 20th Annual Norwell Show Choir Invitational. As host school, Norwell is unable to compete, however the Knight Moves, Knight Stars and Knight Sounds will all provide exhibition performances of their respective 2010 competition routines. The program for Saturday will be announced later in the week. 

Many thanks to Denny and Kathy Meyer for providing the photo and also results from Northrop. 

County Show Choirs On Stage Saturday

The show choir competition season starts with a  roar this weekend, and all three county schools will see their respective show choirs taking to the stage. 

Norwell’s Knight Moves and Knight Stars travel to Anderson Highland for their first competition of 2010. 

Bluffton’s Musical Entourage and Southern Wells’ New Horizons both travel to Northrop. Bluffton has already contested the Raider Classic, hosted by Southern Wells at the beginning of last month, placing second behind Bellmont in the Mixed Choir division. As host choir at that event, New Horizons was ineligible to compete, but performed an exhibition of their routine.