West Marion High School’s show choir "New Era" struck a high note this season, earning a string of victories and caption awards.
With six first-place finishes, one second-place award and multiple accolades for best vocals, best choreography and best overall production, New Era has made a case to be ranked as the top small-mixed group in the South.
The most recent victory came at the Biloxi Gulf Coast Classic where New Era ended its season with a first-place win in the small-mixed division and also took the division's best vocals and best overall production caption awards. To make the ending of the season more memorable, Haylie Smith was named the female solo competition winner of the entire contest, beating a pool of talent from schools such as Petal, Madison Central and Tupelo high schools.
With the competition season ending, the ensemble can take a breather and reflect on its record-breaking season. In addition to six out of seven first place wins, New Era set a precedent for itself competing in two different contests on the same day, earning a new program record of three top-5 competition placements and earning its highest top-5 placement yet of second place overall.
"Placing in your own division is difficult enough, but for a small group to earn a top-5 placement, that means that your ensemble is ranked as one of the top choirs of the entire contest,” New Era Director Jon Bullock said. “You could have 12 or so groups that make up the entire high school competition and earning that placement is just a testament to how hard these kids work."
New Era will end the year with its spring show held on the West Marion High School campus.
