Oliver Ames Earns Grand Champion At Eastern Show Choir Festival

 The Show Choir and Pit Band, Panache’, received a Gold Medal and were named Grand Champion at the 26th Eastern Massachusetts Show Choir Festival in Waltham on Saturday. Competing in the prestigious Champion Division with eleven other New England choirs, Panache’ was one of seven groups selected for the Evening Showcase after winning a Gold Medal in the afternoon competition. In addition, the Pit Band, under the direction of Jeff Benson, received the Best Instrumental award.  In the Showcase, Panache’ garnered awards for Best Show and Best Vocal, a tribute to the hard work and endless practices of the group under the direction of OA Music Director Charlene Dalrymple and assistant Stephanie Manning. 

Panache’ hit the afternoon stage on fire, giving it everything they had. The performance was energetic, fast-paced, moving and flawless. The group was excited to receive the Gold Medal and Best Instrumental awards from the judges, and then set their eyes on the Evening Showcase and the prestigious Grand Champion award. With the senior members in their last competition, the group hit the evening stage focused and inspired, determined to exceed their afternoon performance. Leaving it all on the stage, they did not disappoint themselves or the audience. With Livvy Marcus’ inspirational solo on their ballad “Footprints in the Sand” moving the audience to a standing ovation, their energetic, well-choreographed show brought down the house.

The show choir, Image, competed in the Varsity Division and brought home a well-deserved Silver Medal.

Prior to the competition, the show choirs are categorized as Varsity or Champion, with each group performing during the day in their respective division. The choirs are judged and awards are presented for the daytime performances, including gold, silver and bronze medals; special judges awards; soloist and band awards; and the Varsity Division Grand Champion. Typically, the six highest scoring Champion Division choirs are invited to perform in the evening competition for additional recognition, including Grand Champion. Oliver Ames competed with schools from Massachusetts and Connecticut, including New Bedford, South Hadley, Lowell, Whitman-Hanson, Somerset, Tantasqua, Shepherd Hill and Bartlett as well as Middletown, and South Windsor Conn.

Panache’ earned a Gold Medal and Best in Show honors at the Central Massachusetts Show Choir Festival at Shepherd Hill High School in Dudley, Mass. several weeks ago,

The public is invited to the upcoming Scholarship Pops Concert given by the Oliver Ames High School and Easton Middle School jazz bands and show choirs on Tuesday April 12 at 7 PM in the beautiful Oliver Ames Performing Arts Center. Along with Panache’ and Image, you will get to see the incredible, Gold Medal winning Oliver Ames Jazz Band prior to their appearance at the Hatch Shell in Boston in May. Under the direction of Rob Wheeler, the OA jazz band is one of the best in the state and is appearing in Boston for the third time in 4 years!