National Championship Guidelines 2013
Competition Date
April 20-21, 2013
Location
The Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto
Schedule
Saturday April 20 – Preliminaries
See Schedule
- Participation Awards Ceremony
- Announcement of Top 6 Choirs
- Draw for Final
Sunday April 21 – Workshops
Workshops for students (See workshops for details)
Sunday April 21 – Finals
TBD – Final Competition – 6 Choirs at 30 minutes each
TBD – Guest Performances
TBD – Awards Presentation
Divisions
Open Division (i.e., any show choir – mixed, womens, mens – compete against each other).
Grade Levels
HS – High School Show Choirs will be accepted from all provinces in Canada.
Entry Fees and Deadline
Registration received before November 1, 2012
$45 (includes HST) per Show Choir Member
- Includes entrance to competition, admission to theatre and workshops
Registration received after November 1, 2012
$55 (includes HST) per Show Choir Member
- Includes entrance to competition, admission to theatre and workshops
$20 (includes HST) per Band Member
- Includes entrance to competition and admission to theatre
Directors, choreographers and support staff (to a maximum of 6) are admitted to the event free of charge. All choirs will receive one archival copy of their performance plus taped adjudication comments and score sheets.
In order to secure a spot in the competition a school must submit registration fees for a minimum of 12 choir members.
Registration is now closed.
Final Choir/Band member names and balance of fees must be submitted by March 1, 2013.
Performance
Each group will be allotted thirty (30) minutes for warm-up in a separate room and transfer to stage.
- Twenty (20) minutes for warm-up
- Five (5) minutes to transfer to stage
- Five (5) minutes to prepare equipment for set-up
Preliminaries (NEW FORMAT)
Time
Twenty (20) minutes will be allotted for each group’s performance. This includes set-up, performance and tear-down. A penalty of 10% of the overall score will be applied for exceeding the time limit.
Content
Show Choirs should perform a minimum of two contrasting compositions, including one ballad. Movement during the ballad should be kept to a minimum. There will be a five-minute on-stage critique by the adjudicators following the teardown. It is recommended to have a maximum performance time of 10-12 minutes in order to allow adequate time for set-up and tear-down. We encourage schools to keep the performance material age-appropriate and family-friendly.
Finals
Time
Thirty (30) minutes will be allotted for each group’s performance. This includes set-up, performance and tear-down. A penalty of 10% of the overall score will be applied for exceeding the time limit.
Content
Show Choirs should perform a minimum of three contrasting compositions, including one ballad. Movement during the ballad should be kept to a minimum. There will be a five-minute on-stage critique by the adjudicators following the teardown. It is recommended to have a maximum performance time of 20 minutes in order to allow adequate time for set-up and tear-down. We encourage schools to keep the performance material age-appropriate and family-friendly.
For more information on a typical Show Choir design and format please refer to “Standards”.
Order
- The first twenty (20) choirs to respond to the invitation will participate. Performance order for the Preliminary Competition will be determined by postmark, i.e. the first application received will perform last, and so forth. SCC reserves the right to adjust performance order.
- The six (6) choirs in the Preliminaries with the highest scores will compete in the Finals Competition.
Stage and Equipment
Stage Dimensions
40 ft across by 40 ft deep
Risers
The stage will be pre-set as follows:
Three (3) rows of 8”x4’x8’ risers (4 feet deep x 8 feet wide by 4 across=32 feet total width)
Choirs may choose to use the risers or not. Choirs may add extra set pieces to the stage. Set pieces must be brought onto and removed from the stage within the 20 (preliminaries) / 30 (finals) minute time period. Our crew will assist with this. There will be no risers in the warm up area.
Microphones
The stage will be set with eight (8) cordless handheld microphones for the soloists, as well as area mics (both risers and area in front of risers will have mics).
Accompaniment
Most Show Choirs that compete use a live backup band. There must be no more than one adult (director or otherwise) or professional musician in the band. All others must attend the high school they are representing. Solo piano accompaniment and/or recorded instrumental accompaniment tracks (on CD) are allowed. It is advisable to bring a back up CD (if applicable). Show Choir Canada will provide a drum kit, keyboard (no acoustic piano this year) and all other necessary backline TBD. Choirs may bring their own keyboards if they wish.
Band
The band will set up on stage behind the risers.
Lighting
The stage will be lit with a warm wash. Confetti, streamers, sparklers, etc. are not to be used in the theatre. Due to fire codes, pyrotechnics are strictly prohibited.
Direction
Directors may be on stage with their choirs and direct if they wish. Directors may not perform with the choir other than in the capacity of a musician (see accompaniment section).
Participants
All participants must be enrolled at the time of the competition at the school they are representing. Exception: Accompanist may be an adult. The Principal of the school must sign off on the “Student Confirmation Form” confirming all students are registered at the school.
Awards
Immediately following the Preliminary Competition, all choirs will be presented with a participation award. The six highest scoring Show Choirs will then be announced. Please have two representatives from your choir in costume on stage to accept the awards.
The top six choir names will be drawn from a hat to indicate performance order for the Finals.
Awards for Finals will include 1st – 6th place trophies, as well as other prizes (tba). Individual and group awards will be also be presented at the Finals.
Group Awards
- Best Vocals
- Best Choreography
- Best Show Design
- Best Combo
- Best New Choir
- Spirit Award
Outstanding achievement in overall group vocals; tone, pitch, balance and blend, dynamics and difficulty of literature
Outstanding achievement in overall visual effect as it relates to choreography; execution, design, variety of styles and difficulty
Outstanding achievement in total effect. Demonstrates vocal and visual styles, effective pace of show, and attention to transitions, utilizes costumes and props effectively and showcases the group’s strengths
Outstanding achievement in overall combo. Actively and consistently supports the choir. Includes tone, pitch, blend, balance to the choir, dynamics and difficulty of literature.
Top scoring first-time choir competing at Show Choir Canada Nationals.
Demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie as voted by Show Choir Canada organizers.
Group awards will be based on scores from the Preliminaries so that all participating will be eligible.
Individual Awards
- Top Male and Female Vocalist
- Top Male and Female Dancer
- Top Male and Female Triple Threat Performer
Effectively and consistently achieves excellence in vocal quality, pitch, mic technique, communication with audience, and stage presence.
Demonstrates exceptional technique, quality and dynamics of movement as well as the interpretation of choreography.
Showing exceptional talent in the triple threat skills of singing, dancing, and acting and the ability to integrate these disciplines resulting in a superior performance.
Individual award winners will receive a 1-week scholarship to Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts valued at $750:
- Unlimited morning dance classes (Ballet, Jazz, Tap)
- 2 – ½ hour Private Vocal Lessons
- 2 – ½ hour Private Musical Theatre Repertoire Coachings
- 2 – ½ hour Private Acting Coachings
- Opportunity to audit all RAPA classes
- Airfare and accommodation not included
Adjudication
- Five adjudicators who are industry experts will evaluate your performance using the Ejudicator Scoring System developed by FAME Productions.
- Adjudicators will provide a five-minute, on-stage critique immediately following each performance.
- A copy of the adjudication form with judges comments will be given to each choir director.
Scoring System
The new scoring system works to create greater accuracy and consistency between adjudicators and provides music educators a better tool with which to teach the disciplines of performing arts. Three sheets will be used for the preliminaries (Vocal, Visual and Instrumental). The Finals will use a condensed scoring sheet that will then be ranked for the final scores. We take great pride in hiring fair, competent, unbiased adjudicators, but to ensure fairness to all competitors these two procedures (point total = ranking, and the majority rule clause) are a system of “checks and balances”.
Audience
Appropriate and courteous audience behaviour is expected of all participants. No one will be permitted to enter or leave the theatre once a group has started performing.
