Ankeny High School Show Choirs Place at Urbandale Competition

From an Ankeny school district press release:

Last week, at the peak of show choir season, 20 choirs from Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Nebraska competed at the 30th Annual Urbandale Show Choir Invitational. The competition included the 2011 and 2012 national champions, Wheaton-Warrenville South, The Classics.

Varsity group Visual Adrenaline, directed by Lester Miller, III, placed second during the day-time round. Only seven points behind the Wheaton-Warrenville, Illinois group, The Classics. Visual Adrenaline also won Best Band for the second time this season. The finals came down to a stacked line-up of six very strong competitors including, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Johnston, Lincoln Southwest and Wheaton-Warrenville. In the end, Wheaton won Grand Champion and Ankeny, 1st runner-up.

"This was by far one of our toughest regular season competitions in years," said Lester Miller. "Our kids performed their best and the rest is up to the judges. They have done everything I've asked of them and more. I couldn't be more proud."
Intensity, Ankeny's Women's Group, also had a good day. Directed by Lisa Kelsey, Intensity competed against three other groups, including Wheaten-Warrenville's, Esprit. Intensity won first place in the Women's Division. Intensity also earned a first place finish at Johnston’s Showzam. “These ladies absolutely rock my world! Every time I’m with them, I leave inspired and wanting more for them!”
Prep group, Perpetual Motion, also directed by Kelsey, was awarded second place against 6 other competing groups in the Mixed Prep Division, coming in just 5 points behind Cedar Rapids Kennedy. “This was a great competition with a power-house line-up that hasn’t competed together for years. All of our students are to be congratulated and commended on their performances. As great as they all are, it’s who they are on the inside that makes our Ankeny Vocal Music program top notch. They’ve already started to create the standard of excellence for next year!” said Kelsey.

All three choirs will compete for the last time this season February 23 at Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Visual Adrenaline will also compete at the national competition, Fame, in Orlando March 16.

Additionally, the choirs will perform one more time for the home audience at the Spring Show Spectacular:

• March 1 at 7:00 PM at the AHS Auditorium
• March 2 at 7:00 PM at the AHS Auditorium
• March 3 at 2:00 PM at the AHS Auditorium

The Spectacular will be your last opportunity to hear these outstanding choirs this year.  Tickets will be available online starting Wednesday, February 20.