Mitchell in line to host 2018 state show choir competition

Mitchell is one of three towns in line to host the South Dakota State Show Choir Competition in future years, officials said.

The South Dakota High School Activities Association Board of Directors approved adding Mitchell to the site rotation for the event during its regular meeting on Tuesday in Pierre. Wayne Carney, executive director for the activities association, said the board readily approved the recommendation, and he expects the second reading of the measure will be approved in June.

Mitchell is one of three cities in the state that expressed an interest in hosting the event, which was held for the first time this year in Sioux Falls. Next year's competition is scheduled to be in Aberdeen, and Mitchell will likely host in 2018, pending final approval.

Mitchell High School's show choir, Friend de Coup, won the first-ever show choir competition this year, and has a strong performance record across the region. Mitchell Activities Director Geoff Gross said he is pleased Mitchell will likely host the event in the school district's new fine arts center.

"Obviously, it's exciting," he said.

The $15.3 million, 1,200-seat theater is scheduled to be finished around Thanksgiving. Gross said the timing of the state show choir competition and the completion of the new fine arts center coincided well, giving Mitchell a strong venue to host the competition.

While Carney and Gross said they expect the event to be hosted on a three-city rotation, Carney said the association will remain open to any city in the state that is interested in hosting the event. He said the venue requirements are still being developed by the state show choir committee. Once those requirements are set, they will be available online.

Carney said the first-ever state show choir competition had "a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of excitement," and he looks forward to future events.

"I thought it went very well," he said. "I thought the kids had a lot of fun. Those in attendance, I think, they really enjoyed the first-ever show choir competition."