Xtravaganza

Xtravaganza

The 22nd Annual Xtravaganza show choir competition, hosted at Los Alamitos High School, was big. 12 middle schools. 21 high schools. All are performing for the top prize. Without further ado…the rankings.

DAY 1; 3/13/26

The Middle School Intermediate Treble Division performed first. McAuliffe Middle School’s choir, Soundwaves; Oak Middle School’s choir, Showstars; Brea Junior High School’s Starlet Express; Ethel Dwyer Middle School’s choir, Ripple Effect; and Travis Ranch Middle School’s Encore! performed. In Fifth Place Overall was McAuliffe Middle School’s choir, Soundwaves. In Fourth Place Overall was Brea Junior High’s all-girl choir, Starlet Express. In Third Place Overall was Travis Ranch Middle School’s choir, Encore! In Second Place was Ethel Dwyer Middle School’s Ripple Effect. In First Place was Oak Middle School’s ShowStars, along with winning the Musicianship and Showmanship Awards. But this isn’t where the recognition ends. One soloist is awarded Best Soloist for each division. The winner for the Middle School Intermediate Treble Division was Allyson Hernandez from Encore!.

In the Middle School Advanced Treble Division, McAuliffe Middle School’s choir, Studio Singers, competed against Oak Middle School’s Showstoppers. In first place stood McAuliffe Middle School’s Studio Singers, along with the Musicianship and Showmanship Awards. The Best Soloist from the Middle School Advanced Treble Division was Everly Johnston from Studio Singers.

The Middle School Mixed Division took the stage next. Brea Junior High’s Show Choir Express performed against Oak Middle School’s Showcase and Temecula Valley Charter’s choir, Roaring Harmony. Show Choir Express was in Third Place Overall. In Second Place, and the winner of the Showmanship Award, was Oak Middle School’s ShowCase. First Place was awarded to Roaring Harmony, with the Mucianship Award in tow. The Best Soloist for the Middle School Mixed Division was Lydia Walls from Roaring Harmony.

For the Middle School Bass Division, McAuliffe Middle School’s Soul Men and Oak Middle School’s Showmen fought for gold. The victor in this division was Showmen, the Musicianship and Showmanship Awards going to them as well. Best Soloist for the Middle School Bass Division was Drew Hatakeyama from Showmen.

To end the night, Los Alamitos High School’s choir, Soundtrax, performed as an exhibition group for Day 1.

DAY 2; 3/14/26

The next day was dedicated to the high school choirs. How well did they perform?

In the Novice Treble Division, Palm Desert High School’s Harmony in Motion, Eisenhower High School’s Ikettes, Chaparral High School’s Dynamics, and Valencia High School’s Valencia Valkyries made their mark on the stage. Fourth Place Overall was Harmony in Motion. In Third Place was the Ikettes. In Second Place was the Valencia Valkyries. In First Place was Dynamics. They won the Musicianship and Showmanship Awards. Plus, Penelope Brown, the Best Soloist for the Novice Treble Division, came from Dynamics. 

The Novice Mixed Division had two different distinctions: Small and Large. For the Small Novice Mixed Division, Torres East Los Angeles Performing Arts Magnet (ELAPA Magnet), Palm Desert High School’s Summer Breeze, and Norco High School’s New Generation competed. Third Place was Upscale. Second Place was Summer Breeze. In First Place was New Generation, gaining the Musicianship and Showmanship Awards. The Best Soloist for the Small Novice Mixed Division was Finley Luyben.

For the Large Novice Mixed Division, the competitors were Eisenhower High School’s Ike Singers, Valencia High School’s Just 4 Show, and Glendora High School’s Highland Heirs. Third Place was Highland Heirs. Second Place was Just 4 Show. The first-place prize went to Ike Singers. Best Soloist for the Large Novice Mixed Division was Finn Donoho-Gonzalez from Just 4 Show.

High school’s Intermediate Treble Division is where we see the Wildcats for the first time. Brea Olinda High School’s all-girl choir, Tiffany's, competed against Bonita Vista High School’s Sound Unlimited, Mayfair High School’s Mariners, and Saugus High School’s Blue Heat. Fourth Place was Tiffany's. Third Place, and the winner of the Showmanship Award, was Sound Unlimited. In Second Place were the Mariners. First Place and the winner of the Musicianship Award was Blue Heat. Best Soloist for the Intermediate Treble Division was Sienna Rodriguez from Tiffany's.

For the high school Intermediate Treble Division, Mayfair High School’s Showtime and Golden Valley High School’s Melodies of Gold went against each other. The First Place winner was Showtime, as with the Musicianship and Showmanship Awards. The Best Soloist for the Intermediate Treble Division was Lennox Scott from Showtime.

In the Advanced Treble Division, Brea Olinda High School’s other all-girl choir, Spellbound, performed front and center.

Bonita Vista High School’s choir, The Music Machine, performed against Brea Olinda High School’s advanced mixed choir, Masquerade, for the Advanced Mixed Division in Tier II. The Music Machine won First Place Overall. They received the Musicianship Award, the Showmanship Award, and special recognition for having the Best Crew. The Best Soloist for this division was Mackenzie Koeppen.

The Advanced Mixed Tier I Division was the last division to compete in the whole competition. Chaparral High School’s Platinum FX and Bloomington Kennedy High School’s choir, Rhythm in Gold, competed. The winner of this division was Rhythm in Gold. They won the Musicianship Award and the Showmanship Award. The Best Soloist in the Advanced Mixed Tier I Division was Indigo Gabriel. Los Alamitos High School’s exhibition group for the day was Sound FX.

Thank you to the adjudicators: Chad Alexander, Sarah Berry, Matthew Ferell, Erik Hall, Cara Jennings, Michelle Jensen, Brian McCallister, and Eron Smith for taking the time to critique and take notes about our choirs. These critiques are strengthening our program.

Congratulations to Mason Russo and Kacen Aguiano for being recognised as Best Performer in Show Choir Express and Starlet Express.

Written By Rylee Higashi

Edited By Oliver Handoko