South Jones wins showchoir contest hosted by PRCC | Arts & Culture

The following is a press release from Pearl River Community College:

South Jones High School’s showchoir, Company, came away from the Mississippi Showchoir Contest as Grand Champion.

The group also took home the awards for best visual performance and best vocal performance during the contest hosted Feb. 1 and 2 at William Carey University by the choral department of Pearl River Community College.

First runner-up was Petal High School’s Soundsations, which also earned the best show design award. Petal High’s Chloe Webb won the Grand Champion solo award. Petal’s Innovations women’s showchoir was named third runner-up.

Second runner-up was West Jones High School’s Imagination and fourth runner-up was Central Attraction from Pearl River Central High School.

Tiger Vibe from Northeast Jones Middle School won the middle school Class A division and Clinton Junior High’s Ambassadors took the middle school Class AA title. Haley Holifield of Northeast Jones won the middle school solo competition.

Twenty-four junior and senior high school showchoirs competed in the contest.

RiverRoad, PRCC’s showchoir, and The Voices ensemble performed in exhibition both days.

Members of both groups as well as the PRCC Singers concert choir along with parent volunteers sold t-shirts and concessions and worked as announcers and hosts.

Judges were Dr. Mark Malone of Carey, formerly PRCC choral director; Dr. Johnathan Kilgore of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Jackson County campus; Dr. Webb Parker of the University of Southern Mississippi; and Ken Thomas of Enterprise State Community College in Enterprise, Ala. Judi Holifield of Laurel judged the solo competition.

Proceeds from the contest will go towards RiverRoad’s trip to New York City next month. The group will serve as a host choir at the 2013 Show Choir National Championship Series for high school choirs.

LaDona Tyson is director of PRCC choral groups.